The island cortex, or insula, is a part of the cerebral cortex, making up one of the lobes of the brain. The insula plays a role in different functions of the body, but is particularly involved in emotions.

Its name comes from Latin islet, meaning island, and for good reason: the insula has very specific functions in the brain, and not yet fully understood.

The insula is one of the two lobes of the brain, forming part of the cerebral cortex.

Little known for a long time, the insula has not yet delivered all its mysteries about its functioning and its role in the limbic system (also called the emotional brain).

The position of this area of ​​the brain is particularly conducive to receiving information about the state of the body. The insula has different functions:

• it allows the perception of internal events such as pain, the perception of one’s heart rate, the perception of hot and cold;
• it allows the motor skills of organs such as the eyes, the hands, the mouth for language;
• eIt regulates the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and thus participates in the general stabilization of the physiological functions of the body;
• it controls certain emotions, such as fear, anger, joy or sadness;
• it allows self-awareness.

Neurologists and researchers specializing in neuroscience are still working on the secrets of the insula and in particular in its role in emotions, in the perception of oneself and of others.

First of all, the insula plays a major role in:

• the feeling of disgust (smells, sight of blood, etc.), even when the experience is imagined;
• feeling of pride;
• emotions of a sexual nature, in particular orgasm or lust;
• emotions related to social behavior.

On this last point, the emotions provoked in our social life include, for example, empathy, which is relayed by the insula. A scientific study has also shown that subjects who find it difficult to empathize with others have a problem with the functioning of this area of ​​the brain. Also, when the insula is malfunctioning, the subject would have difficulty verbally expressing and recognizing his emotions.

Finally, this particular area of ​​the brain allows us to respond emotionally to music.

Beyond allowing us to feel certain emotions, the insula seems essential to our behavior in society. Empathy, first of all, is an irreplaceable social feeling, which handicaps all those who do not have enough of it.

But that’s not all: it is the common point between pain, language, sensory emotions (disgust or attraction), addiction, the pleasure of music, decision-making, tasting, laughter or crying, or the feeling of compassion. All of these things are allowed by the insula… and allow us to live in society. It is our social conscience that plays out at the heart of this small area of ​​the brain.

As proof, studies have shown that a severe disorder in this area would make a human being totally disconnected from his environment, and unable to integrate into it, to feel pleasure in life in society. He would even be disconnected from himself, unable to perceive self-awareness.

Like all regions of the brain, the insula does not work on its own. It is associated with all areas of the brain, which form an incredibly complex and elaborate organ. Thus, the insula is linked to our body, even in physiological perceptions like smell; is able to make us eat when we have had a strong emotion, or on the contrary to cut our appetite …

It is connected to our skin and can convey information to us about our subjective perceptions of hot and cold. In short, the insula works as a team with many areas of our body, through which the most varied and essential sensory emotions can be expressed.

Thus, when it malfunctions, it causes:

• narcissistic personality disorders, linked to the lack of empathy;
• a deterioration in language preventing an individual from communicating properly;
• dependence on various addictive substances, such as alcohol, nicotine, drugs;
• emotional disturbances and anxiety disorders.