Do sensations first enter the level of consciousness at the level of the cortex?

Sensations do not enter consciousness solely at the level of the cortex; they first undergo processing in subcortical structures such as the thalamus. The thalamus acts as a relay station, filtering and transmitting sensory information to the appropriate cortical areas for higher-level processing. Once this information reaches the cortex, it can be integrated and perceived consciously. Thus, while the cortex plays a crucial role in conscious perception, initial sensory processing occurs before reaching this level.