Primary somatosensory cortex
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== Brief Definition == | == Brief Definition == | ||
The '''primary somatosensory cortex''', also referred to as '''S1''', is an area of cerebral cortex devoted to the initial registration of information from sensory receptors all over the body. It occupies the '''postcentral gyrus''' and is structured in a way that it involves a '''topographic''' map of the body (mapped upside down and contralaterally). Because there are more receptors located on some parts of the body then others (those with more receptors being more sensitive), there is more cortex devoted to processing information from areas of the body that are more sensitive (for example there is more cortex devoted to recieving input from the hands than there is devoted to the back). | The '''primary somatosensory cortex''', also referred to as '''S1''', is an area of cerebral cortex devoted to the initial registration of information from sensory receptors all over the body. It occupies the '''postcentral gyrus''' and is structured in a way that it involves a '''topographic''' map of the body (mapped upside down and contralaterally). Because there are more receptors located on some parts of the body then others (those with more receptors being more sensitive), there is more cortex devoted to processing information from areas of the body that are more sensitive (for example there is more cortex devoted to recieving input from the hands than there is devoted to the back). | ||
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Revision as of 20:15, 22 April 2008
Brief Definition
The primary somatosensory cortex, also referred to as S1, is an area of cerebral cortex devoted to the initial registration of information from sensory receptors all over the body. It occupies the postcentral gyrus and is structured in a way that it involves a topographic map of the body (mapped upside down and contralaterally). Because there are more receptors located on some parts of the body then others (those with more receptors being more sensitive), there is more cortex devoted to processing information from areas of the body that are more sensitive (for example there is more cortex devoted to recieving input from the hands than there is devoted to the back).
