Speech and Non-Speech Sound Categorization in Auditory Cortex: fMRI Correlates

Abstract: We studied the functional structure of the auditory cortex by identifying and comparing the spatial localization of activation areas in response to speech and non-speech stimuli using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We also performed a similar comparison of activation zones in response to male and female voices. We found that there are specific areas for speech and non-speech auditory stimuli and overlapping areas; the speech area is significantly larger as compared with others. The activation areas responding to male and female voices overlap, though not significantly; the influence of female voice was stronger. These results suggest that there are special areas in the auditory cortex for auditory signal processing. © 2019, Pleiades Publishing, Inc.