Superior temporal gyrus

Superior Temporal Gyrus

The Superior Temporal Gyrus (STG) is one of three gyri in the temporal lobe of the human brain, which is located at the side of the brain and beneath the lateral fissure. It is bounded by the lateral sulcus above and the superior temporal sulcus below.

Anatomy

The Superior Temporal Gyrus extends from the Planum Polare anteriorly to the Planum Temporale posteriorly. It is involved in auditory processing and is the location of primary auditory cortex, which is the first region of cortical processing of the auditory information coming from the thalamus.

Function

The Superior Temporal Gyrus has been implicated in the perception of emotions in facial stimuli. The right STG is also involved in the process of recognizing familiar faces. The posterior part of the STG is involved in language comprehension and is also one of the several key brain structures that support the Default Mode Network (DMN).

Clinical Significance

Damage to the Superior Temporal Gyrus can result in auditory agnosia, a disorder characterized by an inability to recognize or differentiate between sounds. It is also involved in schizophrenia, autism, and dyslexia.

See Also

• Temporal lobe
• Auditory cortex
• Planum Temporale