What is the insula?

The insula, also known as the insular cortex, is a crucial brain region involved in various functions related to our internal states and sensory processing. It is centrally involved in interoception, which is our perception of internal bodily sensations including emotional states, feelings of wellbeing, hunger, and the sense of the physiological condition of our entire body. The insula has a detailed map of the body's internal organs and is essential for integrating bodily sensations with emotional, cognitive, and motivational states 1.

This brain area also participates in functions beyond interoception. For instance, it helps calibrate the intensity of our physiological responses to external stimuli, playing a key role in how we experience fear and anxiety 2, and it enables increased pain tolerance as observed in practice like yoga 3. Additionally, the insula is involved in processes that link internal physical states with external circumstances, helping determine responses in various contexts, such as assessing danger or safety 4.