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THE INSULAR HUB OF CEREBRAL CORTICAL SENSORY AND MOTOR REGIONS
Author(s) -
Johnson John Irwin,
Morris John Andrew,
Fobbs Archibald J.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.975.5
Subject(s) - insular cortex , sensory system , neuroscience , insula , stimulus modality , psychology , supplementary motor area , sensory cortex , cerebral cortex , cortex (anatomy) , motor cortex , perception , functional magnetic resonance imaging , stimulation
Insular cortex has strong connections with sensory pathways from, and motor pathways to, visceral structures. It adjoins ventral striatum, the site of processes related to behavioral motivation, rewards, punishments, and addictions. In addition to viscerally related inputs and outputs, insular cortex receives projections from all major sensory pathways, and is the site of interactions among multiple sensory modalities. There is close proximity between the insular projections from a given modality and other regions of cortex receiving projections from this same modality. Insular motor regions are somatotopically continuous with other motor regions. Insular cortex is thus a hub, from which other sensory and motor regions radiate outward on the brain surface. This is most evident in a cerebral cortex which has been unfolded and flattened into a two‐dimensional representation. The hub position of insular cortex, relative to visceral and somatic sensory and motor areas, supports current ideas about the role of the insula in the perception of bodily self image, and related behavioral governance. Supported by NSF grants IBN 0131267, 0131826, and 0131028.