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Cortica

Literature Review

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2024): The neuroscience of education: Interdisciplinary perspectives that unite the discoveries of neuroscience with those of the disciplines of education and psychology.

Une revue narrative sur l’insula : Gardienne de la relation corps-cerveau ?

  • May Werren
  • Cherine Fahim Fahmy
DOI
https://doi.org/10.26034/cortica.2024.4852
Submitted
March 18, 2024
Published
2024-03-20

Abstract

This article presents an exhaustive narrative review of the insula, a complex and strategically located brain region, and its central role in body-brain-behavior interactions. It emphasizes the importance of the insula in internal perception (interoception), emotional and cognitive processing, as well as in various neuropsychological functions. The article discusses the history of the insula's discovery, its unique structure, its tentacular connections with other brain regions, and its involvement in sensorimotor, emotional, social, and cognitive functions. It also addresses the role of the insula in emotional regulation, highlighting its interaction with the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the temporoparietal cortex.

The review focuses on the impact of the insula in various psychiatric disorders such as depression, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress syndrome, and autism spectrum disorders, suggesting that insula dysfunctions may be a common denominator in several mental health conditions. Innovative therapeutic approaches, such as mindfulness meditation and real-time fMRI neurofeedback, are discussed as potential means to improve insula functionality and treat associated disorders.

The article underlines the crucial importance of continuing research on the insula to better understand its role in mental and physical health, as well as to develop targeted therapeutic strategies. In summary, this narrative review offers a comprehensive perspective on the insula, highlighting its pivotal role in the integration of bodily, emotional, and cognitive processes, and its potential as a therapeutic target in the treatment of psychiatric disorders.

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