Pathways That Make Voices

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Abstract
Auditory hallucinations (AH), one of the most common psychiatric symptoms,elude a compelling explanation. They have been discussed in nearly every conceivablecontext, ranging from a very private experience to abnormal brain functionin the frame of schizophrenia. In 1838, Esquirol1 wasthe first to formulate the concept of a brain-based origin of hallucinations.Although AH occur with a lifetime prevalence of 10% to 15% in persons withoutneuropsychiatric diseases,2 they are most commonin schizophrenia, with an average prevalence of 60%.3 Therefore,recent models of AH were generally based on results gained from investigationsof patients with schizophrenia.4-6 Neuropathologic,7,8 structural magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)9-12 andfunctional MRI13-19 studiessuggest that the superior temporal lobe is altered in patients with AH, creatingdysfunctions within brain regions that are important for language and auditoryprocessing.