vocal pitch
Mystery of how we process sarcasm is solved
A brain area key to understanding speech has been identified by scientists. The neurons respond to changes in vocal pitch - crucial to conveying the meaning of what is being said. Tone is so important to language the exact same words can have a very different message. For example, 'Anna likes oranges' can be a statement, or if the pitch varies near the end, the phrase can be posed as a question, 'Anna likes oranges?' Pitch is also key to understanding sarcasm and emotions such as anger. This animation highlights pitch-sensing cells in a small brain area known as the superior temporal gyrus (STG).