Functionally homologous representation of vocalizations in the auditory cortex of humans and macaques.

How the evolution of speech has transformed the human auditory cortex compared to other primates remains largely unknown. While primary auditory cortex is organized largely similarly in humans and macaques, the picture is much less clear at higher levels of the anterior auditory pathway, particularly regarding the processing of conspecific vocalizations (CVs). A "voice region" similar to the human voice-selective areas has been identified in the macaque right anterior temporal lobe with functional MRI; however, its anatomical localization, seemingly inconsistent with that of the human temporal voice areas (TVAs), has suggested a "repositioning of the voice area" in recent human evolution.