title: Distributed processing and cortical specialization for speech and environmental sounds in human temporal cortex.
abstract: Using functional MRI, we investigated whether auditory processing of both speech and meaningful non-linguistic environmental sounds in superior and middle temporal cortex relies on a complex and spatially distributed neural system. We found that evidence for spatially distributed processing of speech and environmental sounds in a substantial extent of temporal cortices. Most importantly, regions previously reported as selective for speech over environmental sounds also contained distributed information. The results indicate that temporal cortices supporting complex auditory processing, including regions previously described as speech-selective, are in fact highly heterogeneous.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK. r.leech@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leech
authors.forename: Ayse Pinar
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Saygin
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013060:Speech; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*