Subcortical BOLD reflects loudness slightly more than intensity, but noise is severe

Evidence

The current results are different, given that activity in subcortical regions was—albeit only slightly—more closely related to individual loudness as compared to sound pressure. However, the interpretation of BOLD fMRI results from these regions appears difficult, given the poor signal-to-noise ratio caused by the small size of the structures and their susceptibility to cardiac-related, pulsatile motion effects. — Dijk, Pim van, Physiology, Psychoacoustics and…, 2610