The superior temporal gyrus is the uppermost gyrus on the lateral temporal lobe, lying just below the lateral sulcus. Its upper surface, hidden in the lateral sulcus, carries the transverse temporal gyri (primary auditory cortex) and the planum temporale. In the dominant hemisphere, its posterior part forms Wernicke area.
| Location | Temporal lobe lateral surface, between the lateral sulcus and the superior temporal sulcus |
|---|---|
| Parts | |
| Connections |
|
| Blood Supply | Middle cerebral artery (inferior division) |
Processes sound, including speech sounds, and in the dominant hemisphere is key for understanding spoken language.
Dominant posterior superior temporal damage causes fluent (Wernicke) aphasia: speech flows easily but is filled with wrong or invented words, and comprehension is poor. Bilateral damage to auditory regions can cause cortical deafness or word deafness. Abnormal activity here is linked to auditory hallucinations.
Fluent but meaningless speech with poor understanding after dominant posterior superior temporal damage.
Inability to understand spoken words with preserved hearing, reading and writing.
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