Temporal gyrus

Temporal gyrus is a part of the cerebral cortex located in the brain. It is one of the four major lobes of the cerebral cortex in the brain of mammals. The temporal lobe is located beneath the lateral sulcus and at roughly the same level as the ear.

Anatomy

The temporal gyrus is divided into two sections: the superior temporal gyrus, and the inferior temporal gyrus. The superior temporal gyrus includes the primary auditory cortex, which is responsible for processing sounds. Specific sound frequencies are mapped precisely onto the superior temporal gyrus in a tonotopic manner.

The inferior temporal gyrus is involved in the processing of visual stimuli, and is thought to play a key role in the formation of long-term memory.

Function

The temporal gyrus plays a key role in auditory perception, as it contains the primary auditory cortex. This region of the brain is also involved in various cognitive functions, including language comprehension, long-term memory, and emotion.

In addition to its role in auditory perception, the temporal gyrus is also involved in visual perception. The inferior temporal gyrus, in particular, is involved in the recognition of complex visual stimuli, such as faces.

Clinical significance

Damage to the temporal gyrus can result in a variety of neurological and psychiatric conditions. For example, damage to the superior temporal gyrus can result in auditory agnosia, a condition characterized by an inability to recognize or differentiate between sounds. Damage to the inferior temporal gyrus, on the other hand, can result in visual agnosia, a condition characterized by an inability to recognize or understand visual stimuli.

Temporal lobe epilepsy, a form of epilepsy characterized by seizures originating in the temporal lobe, can also involve the temporal gyrus.

See also

• Cerebral cortex
• Auditory cortex
• Visual cortex
• Temporal lobe epilepsy