The human auditory cortices: lessons learned from direct electrical stimulation

Abstract

Most of what we know about the functional architecture of the auditory cortex is derived from work in nonhuman primates. Activation and lesion studies are currently the prime methods to investigate auditory cortical organization in humans. Here, we review what direct cortical stimulation (DES) in human subjects can tell us about the functional neuroanatomy of the auditory brain. Despite the limited number of studies, this overview demonstrates the potential of stimulation-based mapping in this research field. Theoretical implications of the current evidence and suggestions for future studies are discussed.