This chapter will focus on cortical aspects of sound processing in primates. However, due to the incomplete nature of primate literature, conclusions based on data from other species will be discussed. Insights from other mammalian species (i.e., cats, ferrets, rats) will be used to shape hypotheses. It is worth noting that important species differences exist in the auditory system, even within primates. For example, many species of Old and New World monkeys (e.g., macaques, capuchins) prefer silence over music (McDermott and Hauser 2007) (also see Chapter 19 in this volume). Another example is that language comprehension is something at which humans uniquely excel. However, as the specialized anatomy is not well understood, we will not review the pathways dedicated to language processing and production in humans.
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