Final answer:
Wernicke's area in the temporal lobe of the cerebral cortex is responsible for understanding auditory information such as speech and language.
Step-by-step explanation:
The area of the cerebral cortex that is involved with attaching meaning to auditory information, especially speech and language, is known as Wernicke's area. This region is indispensable for speech comprehension and is situated in the temporal lobe, adjacent to the auditory association cortex. While Broca's area is associated with speech production and is found in the frontal lobe, it's Wernicke's area that is crucial for understanding spoken language. Patients with damage to Wernicke's area may experience receptive aphasia, meaning they can speak but do not comprehend the speech of others or even their own.