Comparative insights into insula structure and function
Joey A Charbonneau1,2, Sarah B Carp3, Jeffrey L Bennett3,4,5,6
1National Biomedical Research Institute, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA. j.charbonneau@nyu.edu.
Nature Neuroscience
|August 7, 2026
Summary
Comparative studies on the insular cortex (IC) are crucial. This research evaluates IC homologies across humans, monkeys, and rodents to improve translational neuroscience.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Comparative Anatomy
- Translational Research
Background:
- The insular cortex is vital for psychological and behavioral functions.
- Insular cortex dysfunction is linked to various neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.
- The insula is a key target for human and animal studies, but comparative data is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate current knowledge on insular cortex homologies.
- To assess the suitability of different animal models for insular cortex research.
- To identify research directions for enhancing translational insular cortex studies.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing literature on insular cortex structure and function.
- Comparative analysis of insular cortex homologies across species.
- Evaluation of strengths and limitations of animal models.
Main Results:
- Knowledge on insular cortex homologies between humans, monkeys, and rodents is incomplete.
- Current animal models have limitations for fully recapitulating human insular cortex functions.
- Understanding cross-species differences is essential for interpreting findings.
Conclusions:
- Further comparative research is needed to strengthen translational studies of the insular cortex.
- Identifying species-specific and conserved features of the insula is critical.
- Enhanced understanding of insular cortex homologies will advance neuropsychiatric disorder research.
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