Sensory cortex

The **sensory cortex** is a broad term encompassing cortical regions that receive and process sensory input from the environment and the body[5][9]. It includes distinct areas for each major sense: the primary somatosensory cortex (touch, proprioception, pain, temperature) situated in the parietal lobe, the visual cortex in the occipital lobe, the auditory cortex in the temporal lobe, the gustatory (taste) cortex in the insular lobe, and the olfactory cortex in the temporal lobe[5][9][2]. These regions are crucial for interpreting sensory stimuli, constructing perception, and integrating sensory information with cognition and emotion. Damage to these areas may lead to sensory deficits, loss of perception, or neurological syndromes such as numbness, agnosia, or phantom pain[1][3]. The sensory cortex is organized in layers and cytoarchitectonic regions (Brodmann areas), but it is not a molecule, protein, or receptor that could serve as a specific pharmacological target[4][8].

Other names

Primary sensory cortexSensory corticesSensory areas of cerebral cortexSomatosensory cortexVisual cortexAuditory cortexOlfactory cortexGustatory cortex