Neuromagnetic studies of responses in human auditory association corte
x for tone burst stimuli provide evidence for a tonotopic organization
. The magnetic source image for the 100 ms component evoked by the ons
et of a tone is qualitatively similar to that of primary cortex, with
responses lying deeper beneath the scalp for progressively higher tone
frequencies. However, the tonotopic sequence of association cortex in
three subjects is found largely within the superior temporal sulcus,
although in the right hemisphere of one subject some sources may be cl
oser to the inferior temporal sulcus. The locus of responses for indiv
idual subjects suggests a progression across the cortical surface that
is approximately proportional to the logarithm of the tone frequency,
as observed previously for primary cortex, with the span of 10 mm for
each decade in frequency being comparable for the two areas.