The Role Of Insular Cortex In Pathogenesis Of Anxiety Disorders, Major Depressive Disorder (Mdd), Schizophrenia And Autism Spectrum Disorders (Asd)
Insular cortex (i.e., insula; Latin for “island”), also known as the Island of Riel, represents a still poorly researched part of neural circuitry consisting of anterior and posterior areas divided by the insular central sulcus and surrounded by the peri-insular sulcus. Insula is involved in a variety of functions including gustatory and sensorimotor processing, somatic processing, as well as risk-reward behavior. Insula has been shown to play a major role in socio-emotional processes, such as emotional experience and introspection. Recent comprehensive meta-analysis studies suggest that lesion of the insular cortex can lead to significant psychiatric and neurological disorders as it plays a vital role in human motivation and emotional perception. Therefore, there is a growing interest in the medical community regarding this mostly unknown part of the human brain and the role of insular cortex in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. Keywords: insula, neocortex, mental disorders.