As the brain plans movements, the middle frontal gyrus is listening A brain-computer interface study reveals one brain region’s surprising role in planning movements exclusively in response to sounds. PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — In the swimming pool game Marco Polo, “Marco” navigates toward other players with eyes closed, responding only to hearing the other players say “Polo.” Success depends on the ability to move one’s body in response to sound cues alone, and a new study finds that a specific part of the brain may help make that possible. The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, provides evidence that neurons in the middle frontal gyrus — a part of the brain’s frontal lobe — may play a role in planning body movements, but only when those movements are in response to auditory stimuli. The findings represent what could be a previously unknown function for this part of the brain and could provide a new target for researchers developing assistive devices for both movement and hearing disorders.