The superior temporal gyrus is one of three (sometimes two) gyri in the temporal lobe of the human brain.

A gyrus (plural gyri) is a bump or ridge on the surface of the brain.

The superior temporal gyrus is bounded by:

• the lateral sulcus above;
• the superior temporal sulcus (not always present or visible) below;
• an imaginary line drawn from the preoccipital notch to the lateral sulcus posteriorly.

The superior temporal gyrus contains several important structures of the brain, including:

• Brodmann areas 41 and 42, marking the location of the primary auditory cortex, the cortical region responsible for the sensation of sound;
• Wernicke's area, Brodmann 22p, an important region for the processing of speech so that it can be understood as language.