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Salience processing and insular cortical function and dysfunction

Nature Reviews Neuroscience volume 16, pages 55–61 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

The brain is constantly bombarded by stimuli, and the relative salience of these inputs determines which are more likely to capture attention. A brain system known as the 'salience network', with key nodes in the insular cortices, has a central role in the detection of behaviourally relevant stimuli and the coordination of neural resources. Emerging evidence suggests that atypical engagement of specific subdivisions of the insula within the salience network is a feature of many neuropsychiatric disorders.

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Figure 1: Salience network communication with subcortical structures.
Figure 2: Salience-network-induced coordination between the default-mode network and the central executive network.
Figure 3: Co-activation profiles of insula subdivisions.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Career Development Award (K01MH092288) and a Slifka/Ritvo Innovation in Autism Research Award from the International Society for Autism Research. The content is solely the responsibility of the author and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIMH or the US National Institutes of Health.

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  1. Department of Psychology, University of Miami, PO Box 248185–0751, Coral Gables, 33124, Florida, USA

    Lucina Q. Uddin

  2. Neuroscience Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, 33136, Florida, USA

    Lucina Q. Uddin

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Correspondence to Lucina Q. Uddin.

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Uddin, L. Salience processing and insular cortical function and dysfunction. Nat Rev Neurosci 16, 55–61 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3857

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