Which brain region contains the auditory cortex and olfactory bulbs & tracts?

• A. Temporal lobe
• B. Visual cortex
• C. Cerebellum
• D. Brain stem

Answer: (A)

The temporal lobe handles both hearing and smell processing. The auditory cortex, which processes sound, is located in the superior temporal gyrus and is the primary area for decoding auditory information. Smell information travels from the nose to the olfactory bulbs and tracts and then reaches the primary olfactory cortex, which is in the temporal lobe (the piriform cortex area). Because both auditory processing and the primary olfactory cortex reside in the temporal lobe, this region contains structures for both senses.

Other options don’t fit because the visual cortex is in the occipital lobe, the cerebellum coordinates movement and balance, and the brain stem controls basic life functions.