Somatosensory Function and the Parietal Lobe

Abstract The parietal lobe receives the major somatosensory systems via the projection from ventrobasal thalamic nuclei, which receive input from the ascending sensory systems: spinothalamic, medial lemniscus, and trigeminal lemniscus. The postcentral gyrus areas, 3-2-1, receive this direct thalamic input, which is organized in somatotopically and permits one to undertake discriminative sensory modalities. The superior parietal lobule is responsible for body image. The supramarginal and angular gyri of the inferior parietal lobule are involved with complex sensory dysfunctions.