Title
Functional connectivity of the insula in the resting brain.
Abstract
The human insula is hidden in the depth of the cerebral hemisphere by the overlying frontal and temporal opercula, and consists of three cytoarchitectonically distinct regions: the anterior agranular area, posterior granular area, and the transitional dysgranular zone; each has distinct histochemical staining patterns and specific connectivity. Even though there are several studies reporting the functional connectivity of the insula with the cingulated cortex, its relationships with other brain areas remain elusive in humans. Therefore, we decided to use resting state functional connectivity to elucidate in details its connectivity, in terms of cortical and subcortical areas, and also of lateralization. We investigated correlations in BOLD fluctuations between specific regions of interest of the insula and other brain areas of right-handed healthy volunteers, on both sides of the brain. Our findings document two major complementary networks involving the ventral-anterior and dorsal-posterior insula: one network links the anterior insula to the middle and inferior temporal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex, and is primarily related to limbic regions which play a role in emotional aspects; the second links the middle-posterior insula to premotor, sensorimotor, supplementary motor and middle-posterior cingulate cortices, indicating a role for the insula in sensorimotor integration. The clear bipartition of the insula was confirmed by negative correlation analysis. Correlation maps are partially lateralized: the salience network, related to the ventral anterior insula, displays stronger connections with the anterior cingulate cortex on the right side, and with the frontal cortex on the left side; the posterior network has stronger connections with the superior temporal cortex and the occipital cortex on the right side. These results are in agreement with connectivity studies in primates, and support the use of resting state functional analysis to investigate connectivity in the living human brain.
Year
DOI
Venue
2011
10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.11.049
NeuroImage
Keywords
Field
DocType
BOLD,fMRI,ROI,rsFC,RSN,VOI
Cortex (botany),Insula,Developmental psychology,Cingulate cortex,Neuroscience,Lateralization of brain function,Resting state fMRI,Psychology,Cognitive psychology,Cerebral hemisphere,Human brain,Anterior cingulate cortex
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
55
1
1053-8119
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
43
2.26
15
Authors
6
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Franco Cauda11078.63
Federico D'agata2784.78
Katiuscia Sacco3806.20
Sergio Duca4806.19
Giuliano Geminiani5785.82
Alessandro Vercelli6644.46