Transverse temporal gyrus in the context of "Auditory cortex"

Play Trivia Questions online!

 or

Skip to study material about Transverse temporal gyrus in the context of "Auditory cortex"
Ad spacer

⭐ Core Definition: Transverse temporal gyrus

The transverse temporal gyrus, also called Heschl's gyrus (/ˈhɛʃəlz ˈdʒaɪrəs/) or Heschl's convolutions, is a gyrus found in the area of each primary auditory cortex buried within the lateral sulcus of the human brain, occupying Brodmann areas 41 and 42. Transverse temporal gyri are superior to and separated from the planum temporale (cortex involved in language production) by Heschl's sulcus. Transverse temporal gyri are found in varying numbers in both the right and left hemispheres of the brain and one study found that this number is not related to the hemisphere or dominance of hemisphere studied in subjects. Transverse temporal gyri can be viewed in the sagittal plane as either an omega shape (if one gyrus is present) or a heart shape (if two gyri and a sulcus are present).

Transverse temporal gyri are the first cortical structures to process incoming auditory information. Anatomically, the transverse temporal gyri are distinct in that they run mediolaterally (toward the center of the brain), rather than front to back as all other temporal lobe gyri run.

↓ Menu

>>>PUT SHARE BUTTONS HERE<<<

👉 Transverse temporal gyrus in the context of Auditory cortex

The auditory cortex is the part of the temporal lobe that processes auditory information in humans and many other vertebrates. It is a part of the auditory system, performing basic and higher functions in hearing, such as possible relations to language switching. It is located bilaterally, roughly at the upper sides of the temporal lobes – in humans, curving down and onto the medial surface, on the superior temporal plane, within the lateral sulcus and comprising parts of the transverse temporal gyri, and the superior temporal gyrus, including the planum polare and planum temporale (roughly Brodmann areas 41 and 42, and partially 22).

The auditory cortex takes part in the spectrotemporal, meaning involving time and frequency, analysis of the inputs passed on from the ear. Nearby brain areas then filter and pass on the information to the two streams of speech processing. The auditory cortex's function may help explain why particular brain damage leads to particular outcomes. For example, unilateral destruction, in a region of the auditory pathway above the cochlear nucleus, results in slight hearing loss, whereas bilateral destruction results in cortical deafness.

↓ Explore More Topics
In this Dossier

Transverse temporal gyrus in the context of Brodmann areas 41 and 42

Brodmann areas 41 and 42 are parts of the primary auditory cortex.

Brodmann area 41 is also known as the anterior transverse temporal area 41 (H). It is a cytoarchitectonic division of the cerebral cortex occupying the anterior transverse temporal gyrus (H) in the bank of the lateral sulcus on the dorsal surface of the temporal lobe. Brodmann area 41 is bounded medially by the parainsular area 52 (H) and laterally by the posterior transverse temporal area 42 (H) (Brodmann-1909).

↑ Return to Menu

Transverse temporal gyrus in the context of Wernicke–Geschwind model

In the study of language processing, Carl Wernicke created an early neurological model of language, that later was revived by Norman Geschwind. The model is known as the Wernicke–Geschwind model.

  1. For listening to and understanding spoken words, the sounds of the words are sent through the auditory pathways to area 41, which is the primary auditory cortex (Heschl's gyrus). From there, they continue to Wernicke's area, where the meaning of the words is extracted.
  2. In order to speak, the meanings of words are sent from Wernicke's area via the arcuate fasciculus to Broca's area, where morphemes are assembled. The model proposes that Broca's area holds a representation for articulating words. Instructions for speech are sent from Broca's area to the facial area of the motor cortex, and from there instructions are sent to facial motor neurons in the brainstem, which relay movement orders to facial muscles.
  3. In order to read, information concerning the written text is sent from visual areas 17, 18, and 19 to the angular gyrus (area 39) and from there to Wernicke's area, for silent reading or, together with Broca's area, for reading out loud.

This model is now obsolete. Nevertheless, it has been very useful in directing research and organizing research results, because it is based on the idea that language consists of two basic functions: comprehension, which is a sensory/perceptual function, and speaking, which is a motor function.
However, the neural organization of language is more complex than the Wernicke–Geschwind model of language suggests. The localization of speech in Broca's area is one of the weakest points of this model.

↑ Return to Menu
LINKED FROM (PARENTS)
← Auditory cortex ← Brodmann areas 41 and 42 ← Wernicke–Geschwind model
LINKS TO (CHILDREN)
Gyrus → Primary auditory cortex → Lateral sulcus → Human brain → Brodmann areas 41 and 42 → Planum temporale → Cerebral cortex → Temporal lobe →