Insular Cortex

The insula lies hidden within the sylvian fissure, the first sulcus that forms during development. Its three general sectors each comprise several sharply delimited architectonic areas with different connections and functional roles. It is anchored by the interoceptive cortex, a high-resolution representation of the physiological condition of the body that is unique to primates. A posterior-to-mid-to-anterior progression of multimodal integration culminates in highly interconnected hubs in the anterior insula that underpin all subjective feelings. The anterior insula and the spindle-shaped von Economo neurons it contains contribute to embodied cognition and human self-awareness. Most pathologies of the insular cortex disrupt interoceptive and self-conscious feelings.