Editing Insular cortex (section)

{{Short description|Portion of the mammalian cerebral cortex}}
{{Infobox brain
| Name            = Insular cortex
| Latin           = cortex insularis
| Image           = Sobo 1909 633.png
| Caption         = Right insula, exposed by removing the [[Operculum (brain)|opercula]]
| Image2          = Insular_cortex.gif
| Caption2        = 3D view of the insular cortex
| Width2           = 180
| IsPartOf        = [[Cerebral cortex]] of [[brain]]
| Components      =
| Artery          = [[Middle cerebral artery|Middle cerebral]]
| Vein            =
| Acronym         =
}}

The '''insular cortex''' (also '''insula''' and '''insular lobe''') is a portion of the [[cerebral cortex]] folded deep within the [[lateral sulcus]] (the fissure separating the [[temporal lobe]] from the [[parietal lobe|parietal]] and [[frontal lobe]]s) within each [[brain hemisphere|hemisphere]] of the [[mammal]]ian [[brain]].

The insulae are believed to be involved in [[consciousness]] and play a role in diverse functions usually linked to [[emotion]] or the regulation of the body's [[homeostasis]]. These functions include [[compassion]], [[empathy]], [[taste]], [[perception]], [[motor control]], [[self-awareness]], [[cognitive function]]ing, [[interpersonal relationship]]s, and awareness of [[homeostatic emotion]]s such as [[Hunger (physiology)|hunger]], [[pain]] and [[fatigue]]. In relation to these, it is involved in [[psychopathology]].

The insular cortex is divided by the central sulcus of the insula, into two parts: the anterior insula and the posterior insula in which more than a dozen field areas have been identified. The cortical area overlying the insula toward the lateral surface of the brain is the [[Operculum (brain)|operculum]] (meaning ''lid''). The opercula are formed from parts of the enclosing frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes.