Which structure processes all sensory systems except for olfaction?

The thalamus serves as the central relay station for sensory information in the brain, processing and transmitting sensory data to the appropriate areas of the cortex for interpretation, with the notable exception of olfactory information. All other sensory modalities, such as visual, auditory, somatosensory, and gustatory pathways, synapse in the thalamus before reaching their respective cortical regions. This makes the thalamus crucial for sensory integration and perception.

The other structures mentioned have different roles that do not include processing and relaying sensory information in the same comprehensive manner. For instance, the pons is primarily involved in regulating sleep and arousal and relays information between the cerebellum and the cerebral cortex, while the cerebellum plays a key role in motor control and coordination rather than sensory processing. The hypothalamus has important functions related to homeostasis, hormone regulation, and the autonomic nervous system, but does not process sensory information like the thalamus does.