Auditory cortex

The auditory cortex is the part of the temporal lobe that processes auditory information in humans and many other vertebrates. It is a part of the auditory system, performing basic and higher functions in hearing, such as possible relations to language switching.

1. What is the role of the auditory cortex?
2. Where is the auditory cortex?
3. How does the auditory cortex work?
4. What happens if the auditory cortex is damaged?

What is the role of the auditory cortex?

The auditory cortex plays a critical role in our ability to perceive sound. ... The auditory cortex is also thought to be involved in higher-level auditory processing, such as recognizing aspects of sound that are specific to speech. Damage to the auditory cortex can disrupt various facets of auditory perception.

Where is the auditory cortex?

The primary auditory cortex (A1) is located on the superior temporal gyrus in the temporal lobe and receives point-to-point input from the ventral division of the medial geniculate complex; thus, it contains a precise tonotopic map.

How does the auditory cortex work?

In the primary auditory cortex different auditory neurons respond to different frequencies, which maintains the frequency map generated by the hair cells. Some cortical neurons respond to sound qualities including intensity, duration, or a change in frequency, while others are selective for complex sounds.

What happens if the auditory cortex is damaged?

Extensive damage to the auditory cortex does, however, often induce a condition called auditory agnosia. ... Humans with damage to the auditory cortex may also experience difficulty in perceiving the ordering of simple sounds, suggesting a fundamental disorder in processing sound across time, a temporal auditory disorder.