Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2026
09:38
Quantitative Assessment of Cortical Auditory-tactile Processing in Children with Disabilities
Published on: January 29, 2014
Auditory spatial and object processing in the human planum temporale: no evidence for selectivity.
Kevin R Smith1, I-Hui Hsieh, Kourosh Saberi
1University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
|March 24, 2009
Summary
The human auditory system
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- The primate auditory system comprises multiple processing streams.
- The function of the posterior dorsal stream, specifically the planum temporale (PT), is debated.
- Previous research suggests the PT may process auditory spatial changes or the number of auditory objects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether the human planum temporale (PT) exhibits spatial selectivity.
- To determine if PT regions sensitive to spatial changes also respond to variations in the number of auditory objects.
- To clarify the role of the PT in auditory processing.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed.
- Participants listened to auditory stimuli involving speech from one or three talkers.
- Stimuli varied in location (changing vs. stationary) and number of sources (one vs. three).
Main Results:
- Regions in the PT previously identified as spatially sensitive were modulated by the nonspatial manipulation (number of talkers).
- No specific region within the PT demonstrated selectivity for either spatial processing or object number processing.
- Activity patterns did not support distinct spatial or object-selective processing in the PT.
Conclusions:
- The observed spatial sensitivity in the PT may reflect auditory source separation rather than direct spatial processing.
- The PT's role might be more related to disentangling sound sources using cues like location.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex functions of the posterior dorsal stream in auditory perception.
More Related Videos
10:09Mapping the After-effects of Theta Burst Stimulation on the Human Auditory Cortex with Functional Imaging
Published on: September 12, 2012
08:45Mapping Cortical Dynamics Using Simultaneous MEG/EEG and Anatomically-constrained Minimum-norm Estimates: an Auditory Attention Example
Published on: October 24, 2012
Related Concept Videos
01:15Auditory 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...
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking the...
01:14Motor 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.
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.
01:21Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location
The human brain perceives pitch through two primary mechanisms reflected in place theory and frequency theory. Each mechanism describes how sound waves are interpreted as specific pitches by the brain, offering insights into the intricate processes of auditory perception.
Place theory, or place coding, suggests that different pitches are heard because various sound waves activate specific locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane. The brain determines the pitch of a sound by identifying...
Place theory, or place coding, suggests that different pitches are heard because various sound waves activate specific locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane. The brain determines the pitch of a sound by identifying...
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:
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,...
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,...
01:20Parallel Processing
The brain processes sensory information rapidly due to parallel processing, which involves sending data across multiple neural pathways at the same time. This method allows the brain to manage various sensory qualities, such as shapes, colors, movements, and locations, all concurrently. For instance, when observing a forest landscape, the brain simultaneously processes the movement of leaves, the shapes of trees, the depth between them, and the various shades of green. This enables a quick and...
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.