Anatomy of the insula functional and clinical correlates

Flynn, Frederick G.

doi:10.1080/026870399402325

Cited by 234 publications

(207 citation statements)

References 101 publications

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“…Some research has found increased gray matter density localized in the right anterior insula-a key hub within the salience network, a collection of brain regions involved in the detection and evaluation of motivationally relevant stimuli (Hölzel et al 2008;Seeley et al 2007). By contrast, the present investigation observed increased cortical thickness within the left posterior insula-a region implicated in auditory processing and interoception (Bamiou et al 2003;Remedios et al 2009;Flynn 1999;Farb et al 2012).…”

Section: Cortical Thickness Changes In the Posterior Insulacontrasting

confidence: 86%

“…In the present study, we observed that an intensive 6-week health and wellness intervention emphasizing the cultivation of mindfulness led to both structural and functional changes in the posterior insula. Specifically, we observed an increase in cortical thickness in the left-hemisphere posterior insular cortex-a region associated with auditory perception and interoception (Bamiou et al 2003;Craig 2011;Flynn 1999;Farb et al 2012;Kirk et al 2014). While the participants rested in the scanner, this specific cluster within posterior insula also showed increased rs-FC from pre-test to post-test with vlPFC and MTG/STG-regions also implicated in the left insula mask used in the analysis is outlined in yellow.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…The posterior insula is also implicated in interoception (Flynn 1999), and it sends structural and functional projections to anterior portions of the insula that have more integrative sensory functions. Interoceptive and auditory information represented in the posterior insula is hierarchically rerepresented in the mid-insula and ultimately the anterior insula as it is progressively integrated with sensory, social, and emotional information (Craig 2011).…”

Section: Cortical Thickness Changes In the Posterior Insulamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another study showed changes in posterior insular function and connectivity linked to interoception as a function of mindfulness training (Farb et al 2012). The posterior insula is a region of particular interest to the present research because of its implication in auditory and interoceptive processing by both structural and functional neuroimaging research (Bamiou, Musiek, & Luxon 2003;Remedios, Logothetis, & Kayser 2009;Flynn 1999) and due to the previously demonstrated effect of mindfulness training on the activation and functional connectivity of this region (Kilpatrick et al 2011;Farb et al 2012;Kirk, Gu, Harvey, Fonagy, & Montague 2014). Changes in cortical thickness of the posterior insula may lead to changes in auditory processing, and the posterior insula may interact with other regions implicated in auditory processing, such as the left middle/superior temporal gyrus (MTG/STG) and right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC) in a network involved in the detection of novel auditory information (Petrides & Pandya 2002;Plakke & Romanski 2014;Rauschecker & Scott 2009;Schönwiesner et al 2007;Buse & Roessner 2016;Kiehl, Laurens, Duty, Forster, & Liddle 2001).…”

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confidence: 90%

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An Integrated Assessment of Changes in Brain Structure and Function of the Insula Resulting from an Intensive Mindfulness-Based Intervention

Mooneyham

Mrazek

et al. 2017

J Cogn Enhanc

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Mindfulness training is thought to alter both brain function and structure, yet these effects are almost always investigated and reported independently. In the present study, we combine these two approaches to provide a more complete description of the effects of a 6-week mindfulness-based health and wellness intervention. Region-of-interest analysis of brain structure revealed a significant increase in cortical thickness within the left-hemisphere posterior insula, a region that plays a role in auditory perception and interoception. We then examined changes in the resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) of this insula cluster and found two regions with which it displayed increased functional connectivity: one in the right-hemisphere ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC) and another spanning parts of the left-hemisphere middle and superior temporal gyri (MTG/STG). Individuals with the greatest improvements in dispositional mindfulness showed the greatest increases in insular thickness as well as greater increases in rs-FC of the posterior insula with vlPFC and MTG/STG. The insula, vlPFC, and MTG/STG comprise a structurally connected network involved in, respectively, early auditory perception, the allocation of attention to changes in sounds, and the detailed analysis of fluctuations in sounds. Accordingly, these findings suggest a mechanistic account of the alterations in brain structure and function that underlie changes in auditory processing following a mindfulnessbased intervention.

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Section: Cortical Thickness Changes In the Posterior Insulacontrasting

confidence: 86%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Section: Cortical Thickness Changes In the Posterior Insulamentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 90%

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An Integrated Assessment of Changes in Brain Structure and Function of the Insula Resulting from an Intensive Mindfulness-Based Intervention

Mooneyham

Mrazek

et al. 2017

J Cogn Enhanc

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“…Among these have been roles in learning and memory, perception of temporal sequence, pain perception, language, autonomic arousal, and integration of emotional and motivational factors [53]. As shown in Figure 3, the insula will be presented in a simplified manner as being composed of three functional zones: the dorsal AI, the ventral AI, and the posterior insula.…”

Section: Older "Old"cognition Subsystemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experiencing, Psychopathology, and the Tripartite Mind

Ozier¹,

Westbury²

2013

JBBS

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The philosopher Eugene Gendlin argues that a distinctive mode of reasoning, called experiencing, is necessary for working through personally salient problems such as are encountered in psychotherapy. We review supporting empirical support. It is now possible to consider Gendlin's ideas from a neurological perspective. Work directed at understanding the neurological underpinnings of consciousness and self-related processing, as well as comparative neuroanatomical work, are all consistent with and elucidated by Gendlin's experiencing construct. We argue from this data that the human mind is composed of three interacting systems that are unique to or enhanced in humans compared to other primates. Two are dedicated to "hot and cold" cognition. The most important, least well-studied third system is dedicated to mediating between these forms of cognition. We outline how interactions between these systems define different forms of psychopathology and what they suggest about the structure of the human mind.

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Oleoylethanolamide and Human Neural Responses to Food Stimuli in Obesity

et al. 2014

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IMPORTANCE Obesity has emerged as a leading health threat but its biological basis remains insufficiently known, hampering the search for novel treatments. Here, we study oleoylethanolamide, a naturally occurring lipid that has been clearly implicated in weight regulation in animals. However, its role for weight regulation and obesity in humans is still unclear.OBJECTIVE To investigate associations between plasma oleoylethanolamide levels and body mass index (BMI, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) and functional magnetic resonance imaging response to food stimuli in obese patients and matched control participants. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTSCase-control study of 21 obese patients and 24 matched control participants. Obesity was defined as having a BMI of at least 30. The mean age of participants was 40.8 years and BMIs ranged from 18.2 to 47.5. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURESInteractions between plasma oleoylethanolamide levels and obesity on BMI and functional magnetic resonance imaging response to food stimuli.RESULTS Associations between oleoylethanolamide and BMI differed significantly depending on whether individuals were obese or not (P = .02). In obese individuals, oleoylethanolamide showed a trend toward a positive correlation with BMI (P = .06, ρ = 0.42), while this relationship was inverse for nonobese control participants (P = .07, ρ = −0.34). Similarly, we found significant interactions between oleoylethanolamide levels and obesity on food-related brain activation in cortical areas associated with reward processing and interoceptive signaling (P = .009). Specifically, nonobese individuals with higher oleoylethanolamide levels had higher insular brain activity (P < .001, ρ = 0.70); again, the relationship trended to be inverse for obese patients (P = .11, ρ = −0.36). These effects were not associated with plasma levels of leptin and anandamide, suggesting an independent role of oleoylethanolamide in hunger-associated interoceptive signaling. Analysis of food craving during the functional magnetic resonance imaging task suggested that the identified brain areas may be involved in suppressing food-liking reactions in nonobese individuals. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCEThis study suggests that oleoylethanolamide-mediated signaling plays an important role for hedonic regulation of food craving and obesity in humans and thus may be a valuable target for developing novel antiobesity drugs.

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Anatomy of the insula functional and clinical correlates

Cited by 234 publications

References 101 publications

An Integrated Assessment of Changes in Brain Structure and Function of the Insula Resulting from an Intensive Mindfulness-Based Intervention

An Integrated Assessment of Changes in Brain Structure and Function of the Insula Resulting from an Intensive Mindfulness-Based Intervention

Experiencing, Psychopathology, and the Tripartite Mind

Oleoylethanolamide and Human Neural Responses to Food Stimuli in Obesity

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