Functional architecture of the human insula.

The human insula has a quadripartite functional architecture with four distinct regions, including an anterior-polar area that influences other insular subregions.

• Why it matters: Understanding the insula's functional organization is crucial because it plays a central role in pain, interoception, and feelings, yet its internal relationships remain poorly understood.
• What they did: Researchers combined intracranial electrical stimulation, task-based EEG recordings, and connectivity mapping in 87 participants with intracranial electrodes to identify four insular regions.
• The result: Findings reveal that the anterior-polar region exerts strong, direct influence over other insular areas via connections with the prefrontal cortex, suggesting a pathway for cognitive modulation of pain and bodily perception.