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The left human speech-processing cortex is thinner but longer than the right.

J Harasty1, H L Seldon, P Chan

  • 1Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, and Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Australia.

Laterality
|October 30, 2004
PubMed
Summary

The left planum temporale (secondary auditory cortex) is thinner and longer than the right in adult humans, with equal volumes. This structural difference may explain left-hemisphere dominance for speech perception.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Human Anatomy
  • Cortical Development

Background:

  • The planum temporale (secondary auditory cortex) is a key region for auditory processing.
  • Previous studies suggest hemispheric asymmetries in this area, but the precise structural basis remains debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate histological differences in the left and right planum temporale in adult human brains.
  • To correlate observed structural asymmetries with potential functional implications for hemispheric dominance.

Main Methods:

  • Histological analysis of post-mortem brain tissue from 21 adult human cases.
  • Comparative measurements of neocortical thickness, length, and volume in the left and right planum temporale.

Main Results:

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  • The left planum temporale neocortex is significantly thinner but longer than the right.
  • Despite differing dimensions, the volumes of the left and right planum temporale are approximately equal.
  • Histological data suggest greater tangential orientation of dendrites and increased distance between neuronal columns on the left side.

Conclusions:

  • Hemispheric asymmetry in the planum temporale, characterized by a long, thin left cortex and a short, thick right cortex, is evident.
  • These structural differences may stem from differential cortical stretching during development, as proposed by the "balloon model".
  • The observed microstructural variations could underlie the typical left-hemisphere dominance for speech perception.