Cytoarchitectonic organization of the human auditory cortex.

A new cytoarchitectonic study of the human auditory cortex was undertaken in the light of recent knowledge concerning the architecture, fiber connectivity, and physiology of this region in the monkey. The survey of three normative human brains (six hemispheres) processed in whole-brain serial sections disclosed a cytoarchitectonic organization of the cortical auditory region similar to that in the macaque. Unlike the monkey, auditory-related cortex was found in parietal operculum and inferior parietal lobule.

Human brain. Cytoarchitectonic left-right asymmetries in the temporal speech region.

The auditory regions in four normal brains were mapped and the full extent of the cytoarchitectonic subdivisions was measured for the presence of right-left asymmetries. It was found that asymmetries similar to those found in the planum temporale (left commonly larger than right) are also seen in auditory cytoarchitectonic area Tpt, and area of probable importance for language function. There is a strong positive correlation between the planum asymmetry and the asymmetry of Tpt.

Microelectrode mapping of modality-specific somatic sensory cerebral neocortex in slow loris.

Microelectrode mapping methods and strategies were developed to map fine details of the somatotopic organization of somatic sensory cortex (SI) in slow loris. In-depth, multiple-unit recording, and threshold natural stimulation of skin and hari revealed three modality-specific cortical areas. The centrally located one was activated by extremely light touch and the somatopic organization of peripheral projections to it was mapped in detail.