Functional architecture of the human insula.

Combining intracranial electrical stimulation, task EEG and a cytoarchitectonic atlas, researchers identified four functional subregions of the insula in 87 participants implanted with intracranial electrodes: a dorsal-posterior region encoding somatosensory signals, a ventral-posterior region integrating information from multiple body parts, a mid-anterior region linked to visceral sensations and anxiety, and an anterior-polar region active in salience detection and behavioral switching. Through strong connections with prefrontal areas including the anterior cingulate cortex, the anterior-polar region exerts strong influence over other insular regions, revealing an electrophysiological pathway for cognitive modulation of pain and interoception. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-11175-2