How do you feel--now? The anterior insula and human awareness.

Bibliographic Collection: 
MOCA Reference, APE
Publication Type: Journal Article
Authors: Craig, A D Bud
Year of Publication: 2009
Journal: Nat Rev Neurosci
Volume: 10
Issue: 1
Pagination: 59-70
Date Published: 2009 Jan
Publication Language: eng
ISSN: 1471-0048
Keywords: Acoustic Stimulation, Awareness, Cerebral Cortex, Cognition, Decision making, Emotions, Humans, Neurons, Perception, Photic Stimulation
Abstract:

The anterior insular cortex (AIC) is implicated in a wide range of conditions and behaviours, from bowel distension and orgasm, to cigarette craving and maternal love, to decision making and sudden insight. Its function in the re-representation of interoception offers one possible basis for its involvement in all subjective feelings. New findings suggest a fundamental role for the AIC (and the von Economo neurons it contains) in awareness, and thus it needs to be considered as a potential neural correlate of consciousness.

DOI: 10.1038/nrn2555
Alternate Journal: Nat. Rev. Neurosci.