I reviewed recent studies on the somatosensory cortices, both neurophysiological studies in animals and studies on humans using neuroimaging techniques. The topics reviewed include 1) hierarchical information processing in the digit region of the somatosensory cortex, 2) integration of information from both sides of the body, 3) influence of vision on somatosensory activity, and 4) pain and somatosensory cortex. Functional implications of new findings were discussed.