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Understanding the Role and Functions of the Insula in the...
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Understanding the Role and Functions of the Insula in the Brain

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 1583

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Boucher Olivier

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
University of Montreal Hospital Center (CHUM), 1000 St-Denis, Montréal, QC H2X 0C1, Canada
Interests: neuropsychology; epilepsy; insula; memory; decision making
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Dang Khoa Nguyen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
University of Montreal Hospital Center (CHUM),1000 Rue St-Denis, Montréal, QC H2X 0C1, Canada
Interests: neurology; epilepsy; insula; epilepsy surgery; electroencephalography; seizure detection and prediction; artificial intelligence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Despite significant advances over the last few decades, thanks to modern neuroimaging and microsurgical techniques, the role of the human insula remains largely misunderstood. The Island of Reil has been shown to be involved in many neuropsychological processes as well as in several pathologies. The aim of this Special issue is to provide the latest evidence on the insular contribution to both normal neuropsychological functioning and to pathological processes and on its potential as a target for the treatment of brain disorders.

Researchers are invited to submit literature reviews and original research related to insular functions and dysfunctions, as well as methodological papers related to the study of this once enigmatic brain lobe, in order to provide an up-to-date portrait of existing knowledge of the insula in humans.

Dr. Boucher Olivier
Prof. Dr. Dang Khoa Nguyen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • insula
  • neuropsychology
  • disorder
  • pathology
  • cognition
  • emotion
  • addiction
  • neurostimulation

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 3090 KB  
Article
Microelectrode Implantation in Human Insula: Technical Challenges and Recording Insights
by Daphné Citherlet, Sami Heymann, Maya Aderka, Katarzyna Jurewicz, B. Suresh Krishna, Manon Robert, Alain Bouthillier, Olivier Boucher and Dang Khoa Nguyen
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(6), 550; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15060550 - 23 May 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Intracranial macroelectrode implantation is a pivotal clinical tool in the evaluation of drug-resistant epilepsy, allowing further insights into the localization of the epileptogenic zone and the delineation of eloquent cortical regions through cortical stimulation. Additionally, it provides an avenue to study [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Intracranial macroelectrode implantation is a pivotal clinical tool in the evaluation of drug-resistant epilepsy, allowing further insights into the localization of the epileptogenic zone and the delineation of eloquent cortical regions through cortical stimulation. Additionally, it provides an avenue to study brain functions by analyzing cerebral responses during neuropsychological paradigms. By combining macroelectrodes with microelectrodes, which allow recording the activity of individual neurons or smaller neural clusters, recordings could provide deeper insights into neuronal microcircuits and the brain’s transitions in epilepsy and contribute to a better understanding of neuropsychological functions. In this study, one or two hybrid macro-micro electrodes were implanted in the anterior-inferior insular region in patients with refractory epilepsy. We report our experience and share some preliminary results; we also provide some recommendations regarding the implantation procedure for hybrid electrodes in the insular cortex. Methods: Stereoelectroencephalography was performed in 13 patients, with one or two hybrid macro-microelectrodes positioned in the insular region in each patient. Research neuropsychological paradigms could not be implemented in two patients for clinical reasons. In total, 23 hybrid macro-microelectrodes with eight microcontacts each were implanted, of which 20 were recorded. Spiking activity was detected and assessed using WaveClus3. Results: No spiking neural activity was detected in the microcontacts of the first seven patients. After iterative refinement during this process, successful recordings were obtained from 13 microcontacts in the anterior-inferior insula in the last four patients (13/64, 20.3%). Hybrid electrode implantation was uneventful with no complications. Obstacles included the absence of spiking activity signals, unsuccessful microwire dispersion, and the interference of environmental electrical noise in recordings. Conclusions: Human microelectrode recording presents a complex array of challenges; however, it holds the potential to facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of individual neuronal attributes and their specific stimulus responses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding the Role and Functions of the Insula in the Brain)
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Review

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13 pages, 405 KB  
Review
Insular Cortex—Biology and Its Role in Psychiatric Disorders: A Narrative Review
by Darko Laketić, Nikola M. Stojanović, Isidora Laketić, Milorad Pavlović, Bojan Milosević, Ana Starčević and Slobodan Kapor
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(8), 793; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15080793 - 25 Jul 2025
Viewed by 637
Abstract
The insular cortex has emerged as a key region implicated in a wide array of cognitive, emotional, and sensory processes. The anterior part of the insula (AIC) is central to emotional awareness, decision-making, and interoception, while the posterior insula (PIC) is more associated [...] Read more.
The insular cortex has emerged as a key region implicated in a wide array of cognitive, emotional, and sensory processes. The anterior part of the insula (AIC) is central to emotional awareness, decision-making, and interoception, while the posterior insula (PIC) is more associated with somatosensory processing. The insula acts as a functional hub within the salience network and integrates homeostatic, affective, and cognitive information; thus, its role in different mental disorders seems to be prominent. Altered structure and connectivity of the insular cortex are evident in several psychiatric conditions. In schizophrenia, reductions in insular volume—especially on the left—correlate with hallucinations, emotional dysregulation, and cognitive deficits. Bipolar and major depressive disorders exhibit AIC volume loss and aberrant connectivity patterns linked to impaired affect regulation and interoceptive awareness. Anxiety disorders show functional hyperactivity of the insula, especially in response to fear-inducing stimuli, though findings on structural changes are mixed. Overall, growing evidence underscores the insular cortex’s central role in psychiatric pathophysiology and highlights its potential as a target for future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding the Role and Functions of the Insula in the Brain)
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