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Book

Neuroanatomy, Auditory Pathway

Diana C. Peterson  1 , Vamsi Reddy  2 , Marjorie V. Launico  3 , Renee N. Hamel  4
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.
.
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Book

Neuroanatomy, Auditory Pathway

Diana C. Peterson et al.
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Excerpt

The auditory system processes how we hear and understand sounds within the environment. Peripheral and central structures comprise this organ system. The outer, middle, and inner ear are the peripheral auditory structures. Central auditory structures include the cochlear nuclei, superior olivary nuclei, lateral lemniscus, inferior colliculus, medial geniculate nuclei, and auditory cortex (see Image. Peripheral and Central Structures of the Auditory System).

Central auditory pathways encode sound frequency, attenuation, and spatial location, combinations of which help individuals understand and correctly interpret sounds. Central auditory information processing adapts continuously to environmental, attentional, and perceived importance of environmental cues. This chapter provides a basic description of audition and auditory processing.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Diana Peterson declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Vamsi Reddy declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Marjorie Launico declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Renee Hamel declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

References

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    1. Felix RA, Gourévitch B, Portfors CV. Subcortical pathways: Towards a better understanding of auditory disorders. Hear Res. 2018 May;362:48-60. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Wenstrup JJ. Frequency organization and responses to complex sounds in the medial geniculate body of the mustached bat. J Neurophysiol. 1999 Nov;82(5):2528-44. - PubMed

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