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Auditory Pathway

Auditory Pathway

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...

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.

Hearing

Hearing

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.

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association 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:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...

Auditory Perception

Auditory Perception

The auditory system is essential for sound perception, utilizing various critical structures. When sound waves enter the outer ear, they travel through the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the middle ear, where three tiny bones – the malleus, incus, and stapes – amplify the sound. This amplification is crucial, as it ensures that the sound vibrations are strong enough to be conveyed to the inner ear. These vibrations then reach the cochlea, a...

Cerebral Hemispheres

Cerebral Hemispheres

The human brain, a complex organ, is functionally divided into two cerebral hemispheres—left and right. These hemispheres are interconnected by a structure of paramount importance, the corpus callosum. This substantial bundle of neural fibers is not just a bridge between the hemispheres but a crucial element for the brain's comprehensive functioning. It enables efficient communication between the two hemispheres, allowing each side of the brain to control and receive sensory and motor...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Stereotactically-guided Ablation of the Rat Auditory Cortex, and Localization of the Lesion in the Brain

Stereotactically-guided Ablation of the Rat Auditory Cortex, and Localization of the Lesion in the Brain

Published on: October 11, 2017

Double dissociation of 'what' and 'where' processing in auditory cortex.

Stephen G Lomber¹, Shveta Malhotra

¹Centre for Brain and Mind, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Middlesex Road, London, Ontario N6A 5K8, Canada. steve.lomber@uwo.ca

Nature Neuroscience

|April 15, 2008

Summary

The auditory cortex processes sound identification and location in separate pathways. Deactivating specific auditory fields in cats revealed distinct roles for sound pattern recognition versus spatial localization.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Auditory Processing
Cortical Function

Background:

Evidence suggests parallel processing streams in the auditory system, analogous to the visual system.
This hypothesis of distinct auditory processing pathways has not been behaviorally validated.

Purpose of the Study:

To behaviorally test the hypothesis of parallel processing streams in the auditory cortex.
To investigate the roles of the anterior and posterior auditory fields in sound processing using double dissociation.

Main Methods:

Reversible cooling deactivation was employed in cats.
Specific regions of the nonprimary auditory cortex (anterior and posterior auditory fields) were selectively deactivated.

Main Results:

Deactivation of the posterior auditory field impaired sound localization (the 'where' pathway).
Deactivation of the anterior auditory field impaired pattern discrimination (the 'what' pathway).
These effects were specific and not reciprocal.

Conclusions:

Findings support a dual-stream model for auditory cortex organization.
The 'what' (pattern identification) and 'where' (spatial localization) streams are processed in separate cortical regions.