The primary somatosensory cortex is located in the brain. It is specifically found in the parietal lobe, which is located towards the top of the brain. This area of the brain is responsible for processing sensory information related to touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and proprioception (awareness of body position).
The primary somatosensory cortex receives and interprets signals from different parts of the body, mapping out the sensory inputs to create a representation of the body called the sensory homunculus. This map assigns specific areas of the cortex to different body parts based on their sensitivity and importance for motor control and perception.
In summary, the primary somatosensory cortex is located in the parietal lobe of the brain and plays a crucial role in processing sensory information from various parts of the body.