Which part of the brain controls body temperature?

The hypothalamus is the part of the brain that plays a crucial role in regulating body temperature. It is considered the body's thermostat and is responsible for maintaining homeostasis. The hypothalamus monitors the temperature of the blood and receives input from thermoreceptors in the skin. When it detects a deviation from the normal temperature range, it triggers mechanisms to either dissipate heat, such as sweating and vasodilation, or conserve heat through shivering and vasoconstriction. This maintains the body’s core temperature around 98.6°F (37°C), which is essential for proper physiological functioning.

The other options are involved in different functions: the thalamus acts mainly as a relay station for sensory and motor signals; the cerebellum coordinates voluntary movements and maintains posture and balance; and the cerebral cortex is associated with higher brain functions such as thinking, perception, and decision-making. None of these structures specifically regulate body temperature like the hypothalamus does.