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Functional magnetic resonance imaging of a human auditory cortex area involved in foreground–background decomposition
Author(s) -
Scheich Henning,
Baumgart Frank,
GaschlerMarkefski Birgit,
Tegeler Carola,
Tempelmann Claus,
Heinze Hans J.,
Schindler Frank,
Stiller Detlef
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1460-9568.1998.00086.x
Subject(s) - auditory cortex , functional magnetic resonance imaging , masking (illustration) , contrast (vision) , neuroscience , psychology , signal (programming language) , temporal cortex , auditory perception , auditory masking , auditory scene analysis , pattern recognition (psychology) , speech recognition , computer science , perception , artificial intelligence , cognitive psychology , art , visual arts , programming language
Auditory foreground–background decomposition is a pattern recognition process which combines simultaneous and sequential grouping in complex sound sequences. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging with reduced scanner noise and stimulation through a new type of earphones, we investigated the possibility that this process activates topographically distinct areas of human auditory cortex. A basic matching‐to‐sample task with variable tones (sequential grouping) caused significant activity in three separate landmark‐related territories on the supratemporal plane. A similar task in the presence of a strongly masking acoustic background pattern to challenge simultaneous grouping led to the distinction of the subterritory in which foreground signal‐related or task‐related signal properties were exclusively seen. In contrast to the remainder of territories the level of activity and the periodicity of the signal time‐course was resistant to the masking influence of the background. This suggests that auditory foreground–background decomposition involves a specialized non‐primary auditory cortex field. Generally, the findings demonstrate functional parcellation of auditory cortex for which the evidence in humans, in contrast to other primates, is only indirect to date.