<P> The sensory nervous system is involved with the reception and processing of sensory information . This information is received through the cranial nerves, through tracts in the spinal cord, and directly at centres of the brain exposed to the blood . The brain also receives and interprets information from the special senses (vision, smell, hearing, and taste). Mixed motor and sensory signals are also integrated . </P> <P> From the skin, the brain receives information about fine touch, pressure, pain, vibration and temperature . From the joints, the brain receives information about joint position . The sensory cortex is found just near the motor cortex, and, like the motor cortex, has areas related to sensation from different body parts . Sensation collected by a sensory receptor on the skin is changed to a nerve signal, that is passed up a series of neurons through tracts in the spinal cord . The posterior column--medial lemniscus pathway contains information about fine touch, vibration and position of joints . Neurons travel up the back part of the spinal cord to the back part of the medulla, where they connect with "second order" neurons that immediately swap sides . These neurons then travel upwards into the ventrobasal complex in the thalamus where they connect with "third order" neurons, and travel up to the sensory cortex. The spinothalamic tract carries information about pain, temperature, and gross touch . Neurons travel up the spinal cord and connect with second - order neurons in the reticular formation of the brainstem for pain and temperature, and also at the ventrobasal complex of the medulla for gross touch . </P> <P> Vision is generated by light that hits the retina of the eye . Photoreceptors in the retina transduce the sensory stimulus of light into an electrical nerve signal that is sent to the visual cortex in the occipital lobe . Vision from the left visual field is received on the right side of each retina (and vice versa) and passes through the optic nerve until some information changes sides, so that all information about one side of the visual field passes through tracts in the opposite side of the brain . The nerves reach the brain at the lateral geniculate nucleus, and travel through the optic radiation to reach the visual cortex . </P> <P> Hearing and balance are both generated in the inner ear . The movement of liquids within the inner ear is generated by motion (for balance) and transmitted vibrations generated by the ossicles (for sound). This creates a nerve signal that passes through the vestibulocochlear nerve . From here, it passes through to the cochlear nuclei, the superior olivary nucleus, the medial geniculate nucleus, and finally the auditory radiation to the auditory cortex . </P>

Where is the seat of intelligence located in the brain