Following sensory impairments occur in extensive damage to primary somatosensory area of cerebral coex, EXCEPT:
**Core Concept**
The primary somatosensory area (S1) of the cerebral cortex is responsible for processing basic sensory information such as touch, temperature, and pain from the body. Damage to this area can result in impairments of these sensory modalities.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
Damage to the primary somatosensory area (S1) leads to difficulties in perceiving tactile stimuli (touch), temperature, and pain. This is due to the disruption of the normal functioning of the somatosensory pathway, which includes the transmission of sensory information from the body to the brain via the dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway. The affected areas include the ventral posterolateral (VPL) nucleus of the thalamus and the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) itself.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
* **Option A:** Loss of proprioception (position sense) is indeed a consequence of damage to the primary somatosensory area, as this area is involved in processing proprioceptive information. Therefore, this option is incorrect as it is a correct consequence of damage to S1.
* **Option B:** Difficulty perceiving tactile stimuli (touch) is a correct consequence of damage to the primary somatosensory area, as this area is involved in processing tactile information. Therefore, this option is incorrect as it is a correct consequence of damage to S1.
* **Option D:** Difficulty perceiving pain is a correct consequence of damage to the primary somatosensory area, as this area is involved in processing pain information. Therefore, this option is incorrect as it is a correct consequence of damage to S1.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
It's essential to remember that the primary somatosensory area (S1) is responsible for processing basic sensory information, including touch, temperature, pain, and proprioception. Damage to this area can result in significant impairments of these sensory modalities, highlighting the importance of preserving this area in neurosurgical procedures.
**Correct Answer: C.**