What role does the planum temporale serve in the brain?

The planum temporale is an important area located in the temporal lobe of the brain, primarily associated with auditory processing. This region is notable for its involvement in the perception and interpretation of sounds, including speech and music. It is part of the superior temporal gyrus, situated just behind the primary auditory cortex. The significance of the planum temporale in auditory processing is particularly observed in its structural asymmetry between the two hemispheres, with a larger size generally found in the left hemisphere for most right-handed individuals, which correlates with language processing capabilities.

Auditory processing encompasses not just the reception of sound, but also higher-level functions such as phonological awareness and the integration of auditory information, which are essential for understanding language. The interaction of the planum temporale with other language-related areas, such as Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas, further underscores its role in complex auditory tasks, including language comprehension and production. Overall, its specialized function in dealing with sound makes the planum temporale a key structure in the auditory processing network of the brain.