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Functional Imaging of Auditory Cortex in Adult Cats using High-field fMRI
Published on: February 19, 2014
Using MRI to characterize the anatomy and function of the auditory cortex in infancy
Maria Cristina Saccuman1, Paola Scifo
1Department of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy. cristina.saccuman@hsr.it
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|August 14, 2009
Summary
Infant auditory processing shows hemispheric specialization, with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealing brain asymmetry for complex sounds. This study explores the neural basis of infant auditory skills.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Auditory Neuroscience
Background:
- Extensive behavioral studies exist on infant auditory skills.
- The neural underpinnings of these skills are less understood.
- Noninvasive brain imaging, like MRI, is now feasible in newborns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the neural basis of infant auditory processing.
- To focus on hemispheric specialization for complex auditory stimuli.
- To examine evidence for auditory processing asymmetry in infants.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on infant auditory processing.
- Examination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from newborns.
- Analysis of anatomic and functional evidence for brain asymmetry.
Main Results:
- Infant brains exhibit hemispheric specialization for auditory processing.
- Evidence suggests asymmetry in processing complex auditory stimuli.
- MRI techniques are effective for studying auditory processing in infants.
Conclusions:
- Hemispheric specialization is present early in auditory processing.
- Brain asymmetry plays a role in how infants process complex sounds.
- Further research using neuroimaging can elucidate infant auditory development.
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When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking the...
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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.