During brain surgery, the superior portion of the primary somatic sensory cortex of a patient is stimulated. The patient is most likely to
A) flex his fingers.
B) talk to the surgeon.
C) smile.
D) feel something touching his back.
E) wiggle his toes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The primary somatic sensory cortex is organized somatotopically, meaning different areas of this cortex correspond to sensations from different parts of the body. The superior portion of the primary somatic sensory cortex is responsible for processing sensory information from the lower parts of the body, such as the back. Therefore, stimulating this area would most likely make the patient feel something touching his back.

During Brain Surgery, the Superior Portion of the Primary Somatic