Insular cortex

The insular cortexinsular cortex, or the insulalies deep to the lateral surface of the brain, completely covered by the frontal, parietal, and temporal opercula. The insular cortex has been described in the medical literature as a separate lobe of the telencephalon the "fifth lobe" or as a part insular cortex other structural or functional groupings. Most would refer to it as a distinct area i.

Situated deep within the folds of the cortex—the outer layer of the cerebrum—lies the insular cortex. Sometimes called the insula, insulary lobe, or insulary cortex, this brain region remains something of a mystery. Its location deep within the brain makes it difficult to explore, and until recent decades, doctors had little understanding of its purpose. That's changing, thanks in part to better brain imaging technologies, but much remains to be understood about this vital brain structure. To understand the insular cortex's location, you must first understand a bit about brain anatomy.

Insular cortex

Federal government websites often end in. The site is secure. Subdivisions within the insula have been identified on the basis of cytoarchitectonics, sulcal landmarks, and connectivity. Depending on the parcellation technique employed, the insula can be divided into anywhere between 2 and 13 distinct subdivisions. The insula subserves a wide variety of functions in humans ranging from sensory and affective processing to high-level cognition. Here we provide a concise summary of known structural and functional features of the human insular cortex with a focus on lesion case studies and recent neuroimaging evidence for considerable functional heterogeneity of this brain region. The insular cortex is located deep within the lateral sulcus of the brain. Traditionally, the insular cortex has been described as paralimbic or limbic integration cortex 1. The insula is mostly surrounded by the peri-insular sulcus, and is divided in two by the central insular sulcus. Though there is some variability in insular gyri number, the more anterior portion of the insula is typically comprised of the anterior, middle, and posterior short insular gyri, which are separated by the anterior and precentral insular sulcus. The posterior portion of the insula is comprised of the anterior and posterior long insular gyri, separated by the postcentral insular sulcus 2 Figure 1. Illustration of the human insular cortex with its broad functional differentation.

Michael W. The insula subserves a wide variety of functions in humans ranging from sensory and affective processing to high-level cognition. Further, insular cortex, strokes involving only the insular cortex are abundantly rare, with only 49 reports noted in the literature.

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The human insular cortex is involved in a variety of viscerosensory, visceromotor, and interoceptive functions, and plays a role in complex processes such as emotions, music, and language. Across mammals, the insula has considerable morphologic variability. We review the structure and connectivity of the insula in laboratory animals mouse, domestic cat, macaque monkey , and we present original data on the morphology and cytoarchitecture of insular cortex in less common species including a large carnivore the Atlantic walrus, Odobenus rosmarus , two artiodactyls the pigmy hippopotamus, Hexaprotodon liberiensis , and the Western bongo, Tragelaphus eurycerus , two cetaceans the beluga whale, Delphinapterus leucas , and the minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata , and a sirenian the Florida manatee, Trichechus manatus latirostris. The insula shows substantial variability in shape, extent, and gyral and sulcal patterns, as well as differences in laminar organization, cellular specialization, and structural association with the claustrum. Our observations reveal that the insular cortex is extremely variable among mammals. These differences could be related to the role exerted by specific and selective pressures on cortical structure during evolution. We conclude that it is not possible to identify a general model of organization for the mammalian insular cortex. This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Insular cortex

The insular cortex , or the insula , lies deep to the lateral surface of the brain, completely covered by the frontal, parietal, and temporal opercula. The insular cortex has been described in the medical literature as a separate lobe of the telencephalon the "fifth lobe" or as a part of other structural or functional groupings. Most would refer to it as a distinct area i. The insular cortex lies deep to the lateral sulcus Sylvian fissure , which separates the frontal and parietal lobes dorsally from the temporal lobe ventrally. The overlying cortical areas formed by the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes are known as opercula meaning "lids". The insula is shaped like a sessile irregular pyramid, with its trapezoid base facing medially. The base is circumscribed by the circular sulcus , although, more precisely, it is bounded by four peri-insular sulci: anterior, inferior, superior, and posterior 3,4. The apex points laterally into the Sylvian fissure. The insular cortex is divided into two lobules, anterior and posterior, by the central sulcus of the insula, which passes obliquely from posterosuperior to anteroinferior. The anterior lobule has a "pole" which denotes the anteroinferior-most point.

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Insula of the old world monkey. Transsylvian-transinsular approaches to the insula and basal ganglia: operative techniques and results with vascular lesions. Figure 1 Figure 1. Interfascial dissection of the temporalis muscle for a pterional or subtemporal craniotomy is a common step required for a surgical approach to the insula. Figure 4: central sulcus Figure 4: central sulcus. Decoding the role of the insula in human cognition: functional parcellation and large-scale reverse inference. Visceral sensations were described as unpleasant feelings of constriction ranging from a simple breathing discomfort to painful paresthesia, and motor responses included borborygmi and vomiting. September Download as PDF Printable version. If Swope, Rodante P. Hum Brain Mapp. Additional Brain Injury Information. Damage to insula abolishes cognitive distortions during simulated gambling.

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Review Questions Access free multiple choice questions on this topic. Functions of the anterior insula in taste, autonomic, and related functions. Brain Res Brain Res Rev. Hidden categories: CS1 errors: missing title CS1 errors: bare URL All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from February Articles with dead external links from April Articles with permanently dead external links Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from March Commons category link from Wikidata Articles with TA98 identifiers. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Insular cortex. Tram Nguyen. A systematic review and meta-analysis of morphometric neuroimaging in meditation practitioners". The insular cortex also insula and insular lobe is a portion of the cerebral cortex folded deep within the lateral sulcus the fissure separating the temporal lobe from the parietal and frontal lobes within each hemisphere of the mammalian brain. Circuitry and functional aspects of the insular lobe in primates including humans. Hum Brain Mapp. Congruently, central auditory deficits following isolated insular lesions are relatively frequent. Other internal sensations processed by the insula include stomach or abdominal distension. Central Nervous System.