Sound level dependence of the primary auditory cortex: Simultaneous measurement with 61-channel EEG and fMRI

Sound level dependence has been investigated for years with event-related potentials (ERP). A serotonergic modulation of the sound level dependence only of the primary auditory cortex but not of the auditory association cortex has been suggested by a number of clinical and preclinical studies. Therefore, a precise covering of the activity of the primary auditory cortex seems necessary if sound level dependence is used as an indicator of the central serotonergic system. Recent fMRI studies described a pronounced sound level dependence only in the Heschl gyrus/primary auditory cortex but not in auditory association areas. In the present simultaneous 61-channel EEG and fMRI study investigating fourteen healthy subjects, we found a high correlation between the loudness-dependent change of the extent of fMRI activation (number of activated voxels) and the corresponding changes of the mean current source density within the same region of interest covering the primary auditory cortex (r = 0.84, P < 0.001). Our findings suggest a close relationship between the fMRI signal and event-related potential activity. In addition, the correspondence of the ERP-based data and the fMRI results further supports the validity of the ERP localization approach.