insula - BrainInfo

insula (Ins)

The term insula refers to a small but highly important island of cerebral cortex located deep in the lateral fissure of primate. Its overall shape, as identified by dissection in the human, is that of a pyramid with an insular apex directed laterally and a triangular base adherent to the extreme capsule in a roughly vertical plane. The boundaries of the insula are defined largely by the limiting sulcus. In the human it is separated from the superior temporal gyrus by the inferior limiting sulcus; separated from the rostral parietal lobe and inferior frontal gyrus by the superior limiting sulcus; and from part of the orbital gyri by the anterior limiting sulcus.The portions of the lobes that cover it are, correspondingly, the temporal operculum, the parietal operculum and the frontal operculum. The remaining rostral boundary of the insula is less distinct. Its rostrolateral junction with the temporal lobe is with the piriform cortex in the limen insula, and its rostromedial junction with the frontal lobe is through the transverse insular gyrus to the orbital gyri. Topologically the insula of the human consists of two parts separated by the central insular sulcus: the larger anterior insula and the smaller posterior_insula composed of the long insular gyri ( Ture-1999 ). In adult human the insula of the left hemisphere is larger than that of the right ( Bamiou-2003 ). In macaque the relation of the insula to surrounding lobes is the same as in the human. The human insula, however, is further subdivided into seven or eight gyri, while that of the macaque is smooth except for the orbitoinsular sulcus. This small sulcus is found near the boundary of the insula with the orbital gyri and is not seen in the human ( Mufson-1997 ). The insula does not exist as a topological structure in rodent ( NeuroNames ). The most complex insula is found in cetaceans, such as the dolphin ( Mesulam-1984 ). The human insula's many sulcal landmarks have little relation to its internal structure. Architectonically it is segmented according to two different schemes: a three part scheme of granular insula, dysgranular insula and agranular insula ( Mesulam-1982; Zilles-2012 ) and an earlier four part scheme in which the dysgranular insula is divided into a more granular dysgranular insular cortex (Roberts) and a more agranular insular cortex (Roberts) ( Roberts-1963; Roberts-1970; Paxinos-2009a ). The areas of cerebral cortex in the rodent that are architectonically equivalent to the primate insula are the agranular insular area, the dysgranular insula ( gustatory cortex of the rodent), and the granular insula ( visceral cortex of the rodent ). The insula is involved in the integration of many sensorimotor, socioemotional, and cognitive functions including gustation, visceral sensations and olfaction ( Fig. 3 in Kurth-2010b ); somatosensation (touch, pressure, temperature, etc.), as well as pain ( Fig. 4 in Kurth-2010b ); and attention, language, speech, and two forms of memory ( Fig. 5 in Kurth-2010b ).

Also known as: Insula Reilii, insula, Insula, Lobus insularis, Cortex insularis, insular cortex, island of Reil, insula lobule, insular lobe, cortex of island, central lobe, insular region, insula cerebri, insular gyrus, insulary cortex, insula of Reil, morphological insula

NeuroNames ID: 111

All Names & Sources

1 of 39

Showing 39 synonym(s) - Use arrows to navigate

Showing 39 synonym(s)

Name:

кора островка

Language:

Russian

Organism:

human

Source:

Sapin-1998

Citation:

Vol. 3, Moscow: Elista APP "Dzhangar", 1998

Source Title:

Anatomiia Cheloveka

Name:

lóbulo de la insula

Language:

Spanish

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1994

Citation:

edicion 4, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore; traducción de Editorial Medica Panamericana, Buenos Aires, efectuada por el Dr. Alejandro Kaufman

Source Title:

Neuroanatomía Fundamentos

Name:

Ins

Language:

acronym

Organism:

human

Source:

Mai-1997

Citation:

San Diego: Academic Press, 1997

Source Title:

Atlas of the Human Brain

Name:

corteza insular

Language:

Spanish

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1994

Citation:

edicion 4, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore; traducción de Editorial Medica Panamericana, Buenos Aires, efectuada por el Dr. Alejandro Kaufman

Source Title:

Neuroanatomía Fundamentos

Name:

insula

Language:

Indonesian

Organism:

human

Source:

Noback-1982

Citation:

Jakarta: Penerbit Buku Kedokteran EGC, 1982

Source Title:

Anatomi Susunan Saraf Manusia, Prinsip-Prinsip Dasar Neurobiologi

Name:

insula

Language:

Italian

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1995

Citation:

EdiSes, s.r.l.- Napoli, 1995

Source Title:

Fondamenti di Neuroanatomia

Name:

Insula Reilii

Language:

Latin

Organism:

guenon

Source:

Mauss-1908

Citation:

Journal für Psychologie und Neurologie, 13:263-325, 1908

Source Title:

Die faserarchitektonische Gliederung der Grosshirnrinde bei den niederen Affen

Name:

lobo insulare

Language:

Italian

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1995

Citation:

EdiSes, s.r.l.- Napoli, 1995

Source Title:

Fondamenti di Neuroanatomia

Name:

insula

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1983

Source Title:

Human Neuroanatomy

Name:

insula

Language:

English

Organism:

macaque

Source:

Mufson-1997

Citation:

Chapter VII, pp.377-454 in Handbook of Chemical Neuroanatomy: The Primate Nervous System, Part I, F. Bloom, A. Bjorklund and T. Hokfelt, Eds., Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1997.

Source Title:

Chemical neuroanatomy of the primate insula cortex: relationship to cytoarchitectonics, connectivity, function and neurodegeneration

Name:

Insula

Language:

Latin

Organism:

human

Source:

Nomina-1983

Citation:

Fifth Edition, Williams and Wilkins Co., Baltimore, 1983

Source Title:

Nomina Anatomica

Name:

Insula

Language:

Latin

Organism:

Macaca nemestrina

Source:

Winters-1969

Citation:

University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, Ca., 1969.

Source Title:

A Stereotaxic Brain Atlas For Macaca nemestrina

Name:

Lobus insularis

Language:

Latin

Organism:

human

Source:

Nomina-1983

Citation:

Fifth Edition, Williams and Wilkins Co., Baltimore, 1983

Source Title:

Nomina Anatomica

Name:

Cortex insularis

Language:

Latin

Organism:

human

Source:

Mai-1997

Citation:

San Diego: Academic Press, 1997

Source Title:

Atlas of the Human Brain

Name:

Cortex insularis

Language:

Latin

Organism:

Macaca fascicularis

Source:

Shantha-1968

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1968

Source Title:

A Stereotaxic Atlas Of The Java Monkey Brain (Macaca irus)

Name:

insular cortex

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Mai-1997

Citation:

San Diego: Academic Press, 1997

Source Title:

Atlas of the Human Brain

Name:

island of Reil

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1983

Source Title:

Human Neuroanatomy

Name:

insula lobule

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1983

Source Title:

Human Neuroanatomy

Name:

insular lobe

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1983

Source Title:

Human Neuroanatomy

Name:

cortex of island

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Crosby-1962

Citation:

New York: MacMillan, 1962

Source Title:

Correlative Anatomy of the Nervous System

Name:

central lobe

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Anthoney-1994

Citation:

Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, 1994

Source Title:

Neuroanatomy And The Neurologic Exam: A Thesaurus of Synonyms, Similar Sounding Non-Synonyms And Terms Of Variable Meaning

Name:

insular region

Language:

English

Organism:

rat

Source:

Bowden-1997

Citation:

Source Title:

A digital Rosetta stone for primate brain terminology

Name:

островок

Language:

Russian

Organism:

human

Source:

Savel'ev-1996

Citation:

AREA XVII, Moscow, 1996.

Source Title:

Stereoskopicheskii Atlas Mozga Cheloveka

Name:

корковое вещество островка

Language:

Russian

Organism:

human

Source:

Sapin-1998

Citation:

Vol. 3, Moscow: Elista APP "Dzhangar", 1998

Source Title:

Anatomiia Cheloveka

Name:

corteza de la insula

Language:

Spanish

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1994

Citation:

edicion 4, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore; traducción de Editorial Medica Panamericana, Buenos Aires, efectuada por el Dr. Alejandro Kaufman

Source Title:

Neuroanatomía Fundamentos

Name:

островковая доля

Language:

Russian

Organism:

human

Source:

Baev-2000

Citation:

Moskva: Meditsina, 2000.

Source Title:

Magnitno-Resonansnaia Tomografiia Golovnogo Mozga: Normal'naia Anatomiia

Name:

corteccia insulare

Language:

Italian

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1995

Citation:

EdiSes, s.r.l.- Napoli, 1995

Source Title:

Fondamenti di Neuroanatomia

Name:

insula cerebri

Language:

Latin

Organism:

human

Source:

Savel'ev-1996

Citation:

AREA XVII, Moscow, 1996.

Source Title:

Stereoskopicheskii Atlas Mozga Cheloveka

Name:

Insel

Language:

German

Organism:

human

Source:

Schiebler-1999

Citation:

Eighth Edition, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1999.

Source Title:

Anatomie

Name:

lóbulo insular

Language:

Spanish

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1995

Citation:

EdiSes, s.r.l.- Napoli, 1995

Source Title:

Fondamenti di Neuroanatomia

Name:

corteccia dell'insula

Language:

Italian

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1995

Citation:

EdiSes, s.r.l.- Napoli, 1995

Source Title:

Fondamenti di Neuroanatomia

Name:

островок

Language:

Russian

Organism:

human

Source:

Sapin-1998

Citation:

Vol. 3, Moscow: Elista APP "Dzhangar", 1998

Source Title:

Anatomiia Cheloveka

Name:

insular gyrus

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Mai-1997

Citation:

San Diego: Academic Press, 1997

Source Title:

Atlas of the Human Brain

Name:

lobus central

Language:

Indonesian

Organism:

human

Source:

Noback-1982

Citation:

Jakarta: Penerbit Buku Kedokteran EGC, 1982

Source Title:

Anatomi Susunan Saraf Manusia, Prinsip-Prinsip Dasar Neurobiologi

Name:

Inselrinde

Language:

German

Organism:

human

Source:

Schiebler-1999

Citation:

Eighth Edition, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1999.

Source Title:

Anatomie

Name:

insula

Language:

French

Organism:

human

Source:

Duvernoy-1992

Citation:

Springer-Verlag, Paris, 1992

Source Title:

Le cerveau humain: Surface, coupes seriees tridimensionnelles et IRM

Name:

insulary cortex

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Wikipedia-2024a

Citation:

Source Title:

Lamina terminalis

Name:

insula of Reil

Language:

English

Organism:

macaque

Source:

Gallay-2012

Citation:

Cerebral Cortex. 22(1): 175-190

Source Title:

The Insula of Reil Revisited: Multiarchitectonic Organization in Macaque Monkeys

Name:

morphological insula

Language:

English

Organism:

macaque

Source:

Gallay-2012

Citation:

Cerebral Cortex. 22(1): 175-190

Source Title:

The Insula of Reil Revisited: Multiarchitectonic Organization in Macaque Monkeys

Illustrations

Showing 6 illustration(s)

surface view of
fetal brain in
human

surface view of
lateral aspect in
human

drawing of
all aspects in
human

labeled line drawings of
sagittal section in
Macaca fascicularis

multiple views of
3D reconstruction in
Macaca mulatta

drawing of
lateral aspect in
macaque

Species With The Structure

Equivalent By	Human	Macaque	Rat	Mouse
Topology	Has The Structure	Has The Structure	Does Not Have The Structure	Does Not Have The Structure

1 of 17

Showing 17 record(s) - Use arrows to navigate

Showing 17 record(s)

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

central lobe

Source:

Anthoney-1994

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

Cortex insularis

Source:

Mai-1997

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

cortex of island

Source:

Crosby-1962

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

insula

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

Insula

Source:

Nomina-1983

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

insula cerebri

Source:

Savel'ev-1996

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

insula lobule

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

insular cortex

Source:

Mai-1997

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

insular gyrus

Source:

Mai-1997

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

insular lobe

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

insulary cortex

Source:

Wikipedia-2024a

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

island of Reil

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

Lobus insularis

Source:

Nomina-1983

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Macaca fascicularis (Macaca fascicularis)

Their Name:

Cortex insularis

Source:

Shantha-1968

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Macaca nemestrina (Macaca nemestrina)

Their Name:

Insula

Source:

Winters-1969

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Organism:

Rattus (rat)

Their Name:

---

Source:

Swanson-2004

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Organism:

Mus (mouse)

Their Name:

---

Source:

Hof-2000

Models Where It Appears

Structural CNS Model - Macaque

Brain structures of the macaque are illustrated in BrainInfo’s NeuroMaps macaque brain atlas. Structures are grouped by proximity in a hierarchy corresponding to the central nervous system hierarchy of NeuroNames ( Bowden-1995 Martin-2000 ). Structures in the NeuroMaps atlas are based on the segmentation of an MRI of the brain of a 3-year old male rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). The atlas is most useful for targeting structures for implantating electrodes and chemtrodes. Updated 29 Oct 2025.