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Functional Imaging of Auditory Cortex in Adult Cats using High-field fMRI
Published on: February 19, 2014
Exploring the extent and function of higher-order auditory cortex in rhesus monkeys
Amy Poremba1, Mortimer Mishkin
1Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA. amy-poremba@uiowa.edu
Hearing Research
|February 27, 2007
Summary
Cortical auditory processing extends beyond early areas, involving widespread brain regions. This study reveals distinct processing streams for sound quality, location, and motion in rhesus monkeys.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Sensory Processing
Background:
- Cortical processing extends beyond primary sensory areas for both vision and audition.
- The organization of higher-order auditory processing streams remains less understood compared to visual pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map the extent of cortical auditory processing in rhesus monkeys.
- To investigate the existence and specialization of auditory processing streams.
- To examine hemispheric asymmetries in auditory cortical activation.
Main Methods:
- Metabolic mapping techniques (e.g., fMRI or PET) were used to measure brain activity in rhesus monkeys during passive auditory stimulation.
- Different classes of acoustic stimuli were employed to probe specialized processing.
- Comparisons were made between normal and split-brain monkeys to elucidate neural mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Auditory stimulation activated widespread cortical areas, including the entire superior temporal gyrus (STG) and regions in the temporal, parietal, and frontal lobes.
- Evidence suggests the existence of multiple auditory processing streams, analogous to visual pathways, specialized for different stimulus features.
- Most of the STG showed right-hemisphere activation, except for the temporal pole, which exhibited left-hemisphere dominance for species-specific vocalizations.
- This left temporal pole dominance was linked to right temporal pole suppression, observed in split-brain monkey studies.
Conclusions:
- Auditory processing, like vision, is organized into parallel cortical streams specialized for distinct analyses.
- Hemispheric asymmetries exist in auditory cortex, with a unique left-hemisphere dominance in the temporal pole for vocalizations.
- Neural mechanisms, including interhemispheric suppression, contribute to observed asymmetries in auditory processing.
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Auditory pathways constitute the complex neural circuits responsible for transmitting and interpreting auditory information from the peripheral auditory system to the brain. Sound waves are initially captured by the outer ear, funneled through the ear canal, and reach the tympanic membrane (eardrum). These vibrations are transmitted via the middle ear's ossicles to the inner ear's cochlea.
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking the...
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01:14Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex
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01:23Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex
The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at the...
01:31Hearing
When we hear a sound, our nervous system is detecting sound waves—pressure waves of mechanical energy traveling through a medium. The frequency of the wave is perceived as pitch, while the amplitude is perceived as loudness.
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
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01:13The Cochlea
The cochlea is a coiled structure in the inner ear that contains hair cells—the sensory receptors of the auditory system. Sound waves are transmitted to the cochlea by small bones attached to the eardrum called the ossicles, which vibrate the oval window that leads to the inner ear. This causes fluid in the chambers of the cochlea to move, vibrating the basilar membrane.