The Neuropsychological Impact of Insular Cortex Lesions

Catherine Louise Jones (1) , Jamie Ward (2) , Hugo D Critchley (1)

1 BSMS - Brighton and Sussex Medical School
2 University of Sussex

Influential models based on an increasing body of neuroimaging evidence propose that insula integrates cognitive, affective, sensory and autonomic information to create a consciously perceived, “feeling state”. To appraise these models and evaluate interpretations of neuroimaging findings, we review evidence pertaining to the psychological and behavioural consequences of insula lesions. We focus on the emotional, perceptual, sensorimotor symptoms and disorders of body awareness associated with insula damage. This comprehensive review is intended to inform existing neuropsychological models of insula function in order to guide future research.

Mots clés: COGNITIVE NEUROPSYCHOLOGY; LIMBIC SYSTEM; STROKE; TUMOURS

Catherine Louise Jones, Jamie Ward, Hugo D Critchley. The Neuropsychological Impact of Insular Cortex Lesions. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 2010, 81 (6), pp.611. ⟨10.1136/jnnp.2009.193672⟩. ⟨hal-00557423⟩