Which region of the parietal lobe controls touch, temperature, and pain on the contralateral side of the body?

• A. Somatosensory association area
• B. Frontal lobe
• C. Primary somatosensory cortex
• D. Temporal lobe

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that the primary somatosensory cortex handles basic touch, temperature, and pain sensations from the opposite side of the body. This area sits in the postcentral gyrus of the parietal lobe and receives input from the thalamus, organized in a precise map so each body region has its own spot. Because these sensory pathways cross to the other side early on, the cortex on one hemisphere processes sensations from the opposite side of the body. So sensations from the left side are processed by the right hemisphere, and vice versa. The somatosensory association area isn’t primarily responsible for detecting these sensations, but for interpreting them; the frontal lobe focuses on movement and higher cognition, and the temporal lobe on hearing and memory.