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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.

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...

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

Somatosensory, 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...

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,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations

Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations

Published on: July 1, 2015

Distributed processing and cortical specialization for speech and environmental sounds in human temporal cortex.

Robert Leech¹, Ayse Pinar Saygin

¹Department of Experimental Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK. r.leech@imperial.ac.uk

Brain and Language

|December 21, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Complex auditory processing in the brain involves distributed neural systems. Even areas once thought speech-selective show distributed processing for both speech and environmental sounds, revealing temporal cortex heterogeneity.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Auditory Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

The neural basis of auditory processing, particularly distinguishing speech from environmental sounds, is complex.
Previous research suggested specialized regions for speech versus non-linguistic sounds in temporal cortex.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if auditory processing of speech and environmental sounds relies on a distributed neural system.
To examine the functional organization within superior and middle temporal cortex using functional MRI.

Main Methods:

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed to study brain activity.
Analysis focused on auditory processing of both speech and meaningful environmental sounds.

Main Results:

Evidence of spatially distributed processing for both speech and environmental sounds was found across extensive temporal cortices.
Regions previously identified as speech-selective also contained distributed information for environmental sounds.

Conclusions:

Temporal cortices involved in complex auditory processing are highly heterogeneous.
The distinction between speech-selective and environmental sound-selective regions is not absolute, with overlap in distributed processing.