Salience network connectivity in the insula is associated with individual differences in interoceptive accuracy

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Functional Neuroimaging

Background:

• The insula and anterior cingulate cortex are key to the brain's salience network.
• Previous research highlights their role in interoceptive awareness.
• The link between salience network connectivity and interoceptive awareness remains unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between intrinsic salience network connectivity and interoceptive awareness.
• To examine how resting-state functional connectivity within the salience network relates to heartbeat perception accuracy.

Main Methods:

• Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to assess intrinsic functional connectivity.
• A heartbeat counting task was administered to measure interoceptive accuracy.
• Independent component analysis and seed-based approaches were employed to analyze fMRI data.

Main Results:

• Increased salience network connectivity in the posterior insula correlated with higher heartbeat counting accuracy.
• Greater interoceptive accuracy was associated with enhanced connectivity between insular subdivisions and salience network hubs (e.g., orbitofrontal cortex, ventral striatum).
• These findings were independent of grey matter volume.

Conclusions:

• Intrinsic connectivity within the insular salience network is crucial for interoceptive awareness.
• This research provides a foundation for studying interoceptive deficits in neurological and psychiatric disorders.
• Future studies should explore salience network dysfunction in conditions affecting interoception.