Heschl's gyrus

From Psy3242

Definition

A small gyrus running transversely across the superior temporal gyrus on the upper surface of each temporal lobe immediately in front of the planum temporale. It is occupied by the primary auditory cortex and also known as the anterior transverse temporal gyrus.

Wernicke's Aphasia

Damage to the left posterior temporal region immediately behind Heschl's gyrus is evident in Wernicke's apahsics (inability to understand speech or to produce meaningful speech caused by lesions to the posterior superior temporal gyrus). Lesions to the Heschl's gyrus cause for the inability to listen and understand spoken words because the brain is unable to send the sounds of words into the auditory regions of the brain correctly.

Image

Figure: The above figure shows a reconstructed gray/white surface of a temporal lobe depicting Heschl's Gyrus (HG, green), Superior Temporal Gyrus (STG, blue), Planum Temporale (PT, bounded by green, blue and magenta lines), Planum Temporale with extension (TPT+, bounded by red curve). Original curves were tracked by dynamic programming. (Figure from Ratnanather et al, NeuroImage 2003, vol 20[1]).

I have never heard of this area of the brain. When Heschl's gyrus is damaged, do people hear sounds at all and cannot comprehend the meaning or do they display deafness? ~Hannah