A chronic microelectrode investigation of the tonotopic organization of human auditory cortex

Brain Res. 1996 Jun 17;724(2):260-4. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(96)00315-0.

Abstract

We investigated the functional organization of human auditory cortex using a new chronic microelectrode technique. Tonotopic mapping data was obtained at the single unit level for the first time in humans. All sound-driven units were noted to have frequency-dependent response patterns. The majority of units (73%) demonstrated sharply tuned excitatory best-frequency responses. Twenty seven percent of units showed wide receptive fields, representing excitatory responses to almost the entire range of frequencies presented. A tonotopic pattern was observed with best frequencies systematically increasing as more medial-caudal recording sites were sampled.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation
  • Auditory Cortex / cytology
  • Auditory Cortex / physiology*
  • Brain Mapping
  • Electrodes, Implanted
  • Electroencephalography
  • Electrophysiology
  • Humans
  • Microelectrodes