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Two systems of resting state connectivity between the insula and cingulate cortex.

Keri S Taylor¹, David A Seminowicz, Karen D Davis

¹Division of Brain, Imaging and Behavior-Systems Neuroscience, Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.

Human Brain Mapping

|December 17, 2008

Summary

This study reveals distinct brain connectivity patterns. The anterior insula connects with specific cingulate areas for emotion and body representation, while the entire insula links with the mid-cingulate cortex for environmental monitoring.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience
Functional Neuroimaging

Background:

The insula and cingulate cortices are crucial for diverse functions including emotion, homeostasis, and cognition.
Non-human primates exhibit specific anatomical connections between insula and cingulate subdivisions.
Human neuroimaging links anterior insula and ACC to emotion, mid-posterior insula to interoception, and MCC to environmental monitoring and motor control.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate distinct resting-state functional connectivity between insula and cingulate cortex subdivisions in humans.
To test for specific connections between the anterior insula and pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pACC)/anterior mid-cingulate cortex (aMCC).
To examine connectivity between the entire insula and the posterior mid-cingulate cortex (pMCC).

Main Methods:

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed in 19 healthy volunteers.
Seed regions of interest were defined within the anterior, middle, and posterior insula.
Functional connectivity was assessed by identifying highly correlated, low-frequency oscillations (< 0.05 Hz).

Main Results:

Distinct functional connectivity patterns were identified between specific insula and cingulate subdivisions.
The anterior insula showed functional connectivity with the pACC/aMCC and the pMCC.
The mid/posterior insula demonstrated connectivity exclusively with the pMCC.

Conclusions:

Evidence supports a distinct anterior insula-pACC/aMCC system potentially integrating interoception and emotional salience for subjective body representation.
Findings suggest an additional insula-MCC system involved in environmental monitoring, response selection, and skeletomotor orientation.