auditory cortex

n. Cortical area involved in the reception and processing of auditory information. Auditory information is projected to the cortex from the medial geniculate body of the thalamus through the so-called auditory radiation. The cortical area known as the transverse temporal gyrus of Heschl (Brodmann’s area 41 and probably Brodmann’s 42) is the specific cortical area where the auditory information arrives. This area is the primary auditory cortex. This primary auditory area contains a frequency map: different neurons respond best to particular frequencies. This frequency distinction is also found in the cochlea and the auditory pathway to the brain. It means the primary auditory cortex possesses a tonotopic organization. Around the primary auditory area is located the auditory association area (Brodmann’s areas 22 and 52) involved in complex processing of auditory information (e.g., music, language). In the left hemisphere the auditory association area is known as Wernicke’s area. Bilateral lesions of Heschl’s gyri may result in central deafness. Lesions in the auditory association areas result in auditory agnosia.   - aa

►See also auditory agnosia and auditory PERCEPTION