Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026
Studying the Hypothalamic Insulin Signal to Peripheral Glucose Intolerance with a Continuous Drug Infusion System into the Mouse Brain
Published on: January 4, 2018
Exploring the effects of an insulin challenge on neuroimaging outcomes: A scoping review
Nicolette Stogios1, Sally Wu1, Margaret Hahn2
1Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Cananda; Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Cananda.
Abstract:
Emerging evidence demonstrates that insulin has a modulating effect on metabolic and cognitive function in the brain, highlighting the potential role of aberrant brain insulin signaling in the pathogenesis of various neuropsychiatric illnesses. Neuroimaging paradigms using intranasal insulin (INI) as a pharmacological challenge have allowed us to study the effects of insulin in the human brain. In this scoping review, we conducted a systematic database search to identify relevant research studies that employed an INI-based neuroimaging assay of brain insulin signaling. Thirty-six studies met inclusion criteria for this review. INI was found to significantly modulate activity and cerebral blood flow in brain regions related to homeostatic/hedonic control of food intake, as well as cognition. This review highlights the putative role of insulin signaling in the brain and the potential therapeutic value of INI in patients with mental health, addiction, and co-morbid metabolic disorders.
