Category-specific integration of homeostatic signals in caudal but not rostral human insula

Nat Neurosci. 2013 Nov;16(11):1551-2. doi: 10.1038/nn.3535. Epub 2013 Sep 29.

Abstract

Prevailing theories hold that the insula is functionally organized along its caudal-to-rostral axis, with posterior regions coding lower-level sensory information and anterior regions coding higher-level stimulus significance relative to the body's homeostatic needs. Contrary to predictions of this model, the response of the taste-sensitive region of the caudal, but not rostral, insula to food images was directly related to the body's homeostatic state as indexed by levels of peripheral glucose.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00846040.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Afferent Pathways / blood supply
  • Afferent Pathways / physiology*
  • Blood Glucose / physiology
  • Brain Mapping*
  • Cerebral Cortex / blood supply
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiology*
  • Female
  • Homeostasis / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Oxygen
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Taste / physiology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Oxygen

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00846040