Where is the somatosensory cortex function?

By Laura S. Harris
Jun 15, 2021

Since the pioneering work of Penfield and his colleagues in the 1930s, the somatosensory cortex, which is located on the postcentral gyrus, has been known for its central role in processing sensory information from various parts of the body.

What is the primary somatosensory cortex?

The primary somatosensory cortex is called S1. This area of the cerebral cortex receives sensory information from the somatic senses, plus proprioceptive senses and some visceral senses. It is located on the postcentral gyrus of the parietal lobe, as shown in Figure 4.3.

What are the three major functions of the somatosensory system?

Somatic information is provided by receptors distributed throughout the body. One of the earliest investigators of the bodily senses, Charles Sherrington, noted that the somatosensory system serves three major functions: proprioception, exteroception, and interoception.

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References

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (Dec 6, 2018) From anatomy to function: the role of the somatosensory ...
• https://www.sciencedirect.com (Jul 4, 2021) Primary Somatosensory Cortex - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
• https://neurology.mhmedical.com (Jul 4, 2021) The Somatosensory System: Receptors and Central Pathways ...