Insular cortex

1. Insular Cortex Jack Bellingham & Sorfina Zainal

2. Location
✦centre of the cerebral hemisphere

3. Functions
✦interoceptive awareness - senses within body
✦motor control
✦homeostasis - stability within body
✦social emotions
✦emotions
✦self-awareness
✦perception
✦cognitive functioning

4. Studies
✦Dr. Andrea Caria:
✦generation of signals & if it supports the function of
emotions
✦3 groups: specific, unspecific or no feedback about extent
of activation
✦assessed visual emotional stimuli (fMRI); used
specialized imaging technique (negative and neutral
pictures)
✦results: specific - increased activity & perceived negative
pictures as more unpleasant; unspecific & no feedback -
not able to increase activity & showed no changes in
emotional response
✦voluntary control of activity in emotionally important
brain systems is possible - clinical treatment of emotional
disorders

5. Studies
✦Dreher & Sescousse
✦verify hypothesis on desires being assessed
in same brain area
✦game that rewarded 18 volunteers with
money or erotic images
✦brain monitored with fMRI
✦results: desires evaluated in cerebral region
(including insula); brain activity was
within that region - addiction (gambling)

6. Studies
✦Rilling
✦compare neurobiology of humans & other
primates - comparison of grey & white matter
✦range of imaging and analytical techniques used
on chimpanzees & bonobos (voxel-based
morphometry - technique allows investigation in
brain)
✦results: bonobos had more developed circuitry in
limbic system & pathway connecting amygdala
and cortex is larger - more emotional; empathy
✦less developed insula - more aggression

7. Damage
✦immunosuppression
✦apathy
✦loss of libido

8. Thank You