Final answer:
The planum temporale is associated with the processing of auditory information and language, particularly on the left side where it corresponds to Wernicke's area, known for language comprehension. It is not the same as Heschl's gyrus; rather, it is usually larger on the left in right-handed people.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question asks about the characteristics of the planum temporale. The planum temporale is a region of the brain within the temporal lobes that is associated with processing auditory information and language. It is not the same as Heschl's gyrus, which contains the primary auditory cortex, but rather is located posterior to it. Furthermore, the planum temporal is often larger on the left side than the right in right-handed individuals, which suggests lateralization of language function. This lateralization is commonly observed through the fact that the left planum temporal is associated with Wernicke's area, a critical region for language comprehension.
Regarding the options provided in the question, the correct identifier for the planum temporal is that it is also known as Wernicke's area on the left side, making option C the accurate choice. It is worth noting that although Wernicke's area is typically larger on the left in right-handed individuals, there is considerable variability between individuals.