Sensitivity to voice in human prefrontal cortex

J Neurophysiol. 2005 Sep;94(3):2251-4. doi: 10.1152/jn.00329.2005. Epub 2005 May 31.

Abstract

We report two functional MRI (fMRI) experiments showing sensitivity to human voice in a region of human left inferior prefrontal cortex, pars orbitalis. The voice-enhanced response was observed for speech as well as non-linguistic vocalizations and was stronger for emotional than neutral vocalizations. This region could constitute a human prefrontal auditory domain similar to the one recently identified in the macaque brain.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation / methods*
  • Adult
  • Auditory Perception / physiology
  • Auditory Threshold / physiology*
  • Brain Mapping
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Oxygen / blood
  • Prefrontal Cortex / blood supply
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiology*
  • Voice / physiology*

Substances

  • Oxygen