Which area of the brain is associated with processing somatosensory information?

The somatosensory cortex is the area of the brain primarily responsible for processing somatosensory information, which includes sensations of touch, temperature, pain, and proprioception. Located in the parietal lobe, the somatosensory cortex integrates signals received from the body's sensory receptors through pathways that transmit this information from the periphery to higher brain centers. It maps the body in a highly organized fashion, allowing for the localization and interpretation of sensory input.

This area uses signals relayed from the thalamus, which acts as a sensory relay station, but it is the somatosensory cortex that ultimately processes and interprets this information, making it essential for understanding and responding to sensory stimuli.