66 Sound Identity vs. Location

Beyond the cortical representation of the A1 (labeled AC in the figure below) and the belt area lies the “what” and “where” pathways of the ear. Through modern neuroimaging studies as well as lesion studies, we know sound identity is represented in a more ventral extended network whereas sound location is represented in a more dorsal extended network. The following paragraph is from the OpenStax textbook on visual processing, but the general principles apply to auditory processing, as well!

The ventral stream identifies visual stimuli and their significance. Because the ventral stream uses temporal lobe structures, it begins to interact with the non-sensory cortex and may be important in visual stimuli becoming part of memories. The dorsal stream locates objects in space and helps in guiding movements of the body in response to visual inputs. The dorsal stream enters the parietal lobe, where it interacts with somatosensory cortical areas that are important for our perception of the body and its movements. The dorsal stream can then influence frontal lobe activity where motor functions originate.

If you would like to learn more about neuroimaging and lesion studies that provided evidence for the “what” and “where” pathways, here is a link to a scholar-edit article that gives an in-depth overview.