Located in the pons (brainstem), it is composed of a cluster of distinct neuronal subregions that in general receive somatosensory and visceral inputs from the body, and relays them to the forebrain. Major inputs come from the dorsal spinal cord and nucleus tractus solitarius and major outputs go to places like the cortex, amygdala, thalamus and hypothalamus. In modulates things like food and water intake, pain, temperature, cardiac function, and breathing.