Which part of the brain is involved in processing auditory information?

The primary auditory cortex is responsible for processing auditory information and is located in the temporal lobe of the brain. This area receives input directly from the auditory pathways, allowing it to interpret sounds, such as speech, music, and environmental noises. The organization of the primary auditory cortex enables it to analyze various aspects of sound, including pitch, volume, and location, which is essential for understanding auditory stimuli in our environment.

In contrast, the visual association cortex primarily processes visual information, not auditory. The pons serves as a communication bridge within the brainstem, assisting with functions related to sleep and respiration rather than directly processing sound. The hippocampus, while crucial for memory formation and spatial navigation, does not specialize in auditory processing, focusing instead on storing and retrieving memories. Thus, the primary auditory cortex stands out as the correct choice for the processing of auditory information.