ventral posterior nucleus

n. A cluster of nerve cells on each side of the thalamus behind the ventral lateral nucleus, which is organized as a virtual map of the body with a disproportionate amount of space for the face and tongue. It receives input from the medial lemniscus, the trigeminal tract, and the ascending gustatory lemniscus and projects onto the somatosensory cortex and the ascending reticular activating system.