Central relay station for all sensory information (except smell) that goes into and comes out of the cerebral cortex. It plays a key role in pain, touch, and temperature sensation, as well as in attention, alertness, and memory Thalamus: A relay center that processes and transmits sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex. It helps regulate consciousness, sleep, and alertness. Gateway to consciousness Switchboard operator, directs the brain on what to focus on