Role of the right anterior insular cortex in joint attention-related identification with a partner

Abstract Understanding others as intentional agents is critical in social interactions. We perceive others’ intentions through identification, a categorical judgment that others should work like oneself. The most primitive form of understanding others’ intentions is joint attention (JA). During JA, an initiator selects a shared object through gaze (initiative joint attention, IJA), and the responder follows the direction of the initiator’s gaze (reactive joint attention, RJA). Therefore, both participants share the intention of object selection. However, the neural underpinning of shared intention through JA remains unknown. In this study, we hypothesized that JA is represented by inter-individual neural synchronization of the intention-related activity. Additionally, JA requires eye contact that activates the limbic mirror system; therefore, we hypothesized that this system is involved in shared attention through JA. To test these hypotheses, participants underwent hyperscanning fMRI while performing JA tasks. We found that IJA-related activation of the right anterior insular cortex of participants was positively correlated with RJA-related activation of homologous regions in their partners. This area was activated by volitional selection of the target during IJA. Therefore, identification with others by JA is likely accomplished by the shared intentionality of target selection represented by inter-individual synchronization of the right anterior insular cortex.

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The role of the right anterior insular cortex in the right hemisphere preponderance of stimulus-preceding negativity (SPN): An fMRI study

Neuroscience Letters ◽

10.1016/j.neulet.2008.11.032 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 450 (2) ◽

pp. 75-79 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Yasunori Kotani ◽

Yoshimi Ohgami ◽

Yumiko Kuramoto ◽

Tetsuji Tsukamoto ◽

Yusuke Inoue ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Right Hemisphere ◽

Insular Cortex ◽

Anterior Insular Cortex ◽

Fmri Study ◽

Stimulus Preceding Negativity ◽

The Right

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Damage to the right temporoparietal junction, but not lateral prefrontal or insular cortex, amplifies the role of goal-directed attention

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-018-36537-3 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Elena Pedrazzini ◽

Radek Ptak

Keyword(s):

Insular Cortex ◽

Directed Attention ◽

Temporoparietal Junction ◽

Right Temporoparietal Junction ◽

The Right

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Role of the anterior insular cortex in integrative causal signaling during multisensory auditory-visual attention

European Journal of Neuroscience ◽

10.1111/ejn.12764 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 41 (2) ◽

pp. 264-274 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Tianwen Chen ◽

Lars Michels ◽

Kaustubh Supekar ◽

John Kochalka ◽

Srikanth Ryali ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual Attention ◽

Insular Cortex ◽

Anterior Insular Cortex

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Primate anterior insular cortex represents economic decision variables postulated by Prospect theory

10.1101/2020.11.12.380758 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

You-Ping Yang ◽

Xinjian Li ◽

Veit Stuphorn

Keyword(s):

Prospect Theory ◽

Reference Point ◽

Contextual Information ◽

Insular Cortex ◽

Risk Attitude ◽

Risky Decision ◽

Anterior Insular Cortex ◽

Decision Variables ◽

Gain Loss

AbstractIn humans, risk attitude is highly context-dependent, varying with wealth levels or for different potential outcomes, such as gains or losses. These behavioral effects are well described by Prospect Theory, with the key assumption that humans represent the value of each available option asymmetrically as gain or loss relative to a reference point. However, it remains unknown how these computations are implemented at the neuronal level. Using a new token gambling task, we found that macaques, like humans, change their risk attitude across wealth levels and gain/loss contexts. Neurons in their anterior insular cortex (AIC) encode the ‘reference point’ (i.e. the current wealth level of the monkey) and the ‘asymmetric value function’ (i.e. option value signals are more sensitive to change in the loss than in the gain context) as postulated by Prospect Theory. In addition, changes in the activity of a subgroup of AIC neurons are correlated with the inter-trial fluctuations in choice and risk attitude. Taken together, we find that the role of primate AIC in risky decision-making is to monitor contextual information used to guide the animal’s willingness to accept risk.

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The role of the human anterior insular cortex in time processing

Brain Structure and Function ◽

10.1007/s00429-010-0267-8 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 214 (5-6) ◽

pp. 623-628 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

P. Kosillo ◽

A. T. Smith

Keyword(s):

Insular Cortex ◽

Time Processing ◽

Anterior Insular Cortex

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Frequency and Intensity of Premonitory Urges to tic in Tourette Syndrome is associated with SMA GABA+ levels

10.31234/osf.io/j8uwc ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jason He ◽

Mark Mikkelsen ◽

David Huddleston ◽

Deana Crocetti ◽

Kim Cecil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tourette Syndrome ◽

Insular Cortex ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Resonance Spectroscopy ◽

Typically Developing ◽

Gabaergic Neurotransmission ◽

Primary Sensorimotor Cortex ◽

Tic Severity ◽

The Right

Background. Individuals with Tourette syndrome (TS) often report that they express tics as a means of alleviating the experience of unpleasant sensations. These sensations are perceived as an urge to act and are referred to as premonitory urges. Premonitory urges have been the focus of recent efforts to develop interventions to reduce tic expression in those with TS. Increasing evidence points to the role of both structural and functional alterations of prefrontal and limbic brain regions regarding the experience of premonitory urges to tic in TS. This study examined the contribution of brain GABA and glutamate levels of the right primary sensorimotor cortex (SM1), supplementary motor area (SMA), and insular cortex (insula) to tic and urge severity in children with TS.Methods. Edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to assess GABA+ (GABA + macromolecules) and Glx (glutamate + glutamine) of the right SM1, SMA and insula in 68 children with TS (MAge = 10.59, SDAge = 1.33) and 41 typically developing controls (MAge = 10.26, SDAge = 2.21). We first compared GABA+ and Glx levels of these brain regions between groups. We then explored the association between regional GABA+ and Glx levels with urge and tic severity. Results. GABA+ and Glx of the right SM1, SMA and insula were comparable between the children with TS and typically developing controls. In children with TS, lower levels of SMA GABA+ was associated with more severe and more frequent premonitory urges. Neither GABA+ nor Glx levels were associated with tic severity. Conclusions. These results broadly support the role of GABAergic neurotransmission within the SMA in the experience of premonitory urges in children with TS.

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Introduction à l'Etude Clinique des Crises Epileptiques Rétrorolandiques

Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques ◽

10.1017/s0317167100032716 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 18 (S4) ◽

pp. 566-569 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

J. Baucaud ◽

J. Talairach ◽

C. Munari ◽

T. Giallonardo ◽

P. Brunet

Keyword(s):

Functional Organization ◽

Insular Cortex ◽

Epileptic Seizures ◽

Epileptic Focus ◽

Surgical Removal ◽

Occipital Region ◽

Clinical Correlates ◽

Electrographic Seizures ◽

The Right

ABSTRACT:An introduction to the clinical study of postrolandic epileptic seizures. We reviewed, in 145 epilectics studied with SEEG, 800 clinical and electrographic seizures originating from the post-rolandic areas (590 spontaneous Sz and 260 induced by stimulation). The intra-cranial electrodes were implanted using a technique described by Talairach et al. (1974). Seizure onsets were recorded in the centro-parietal region (64 patients) in the partietal49 and in the occipital region.15 Additionally in 15 patients, mixed Sz onset were recorded. One hundred and eight (108) patients underwent surgical removal of their epileptic focus. (69 on the right, 39 on left.) 65% were cured (Sz free or occas Sz, f/up 3 years). The main ictal cal features are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the role of the operculo-insular cortex in the functional organization in man, based on Sz arising from the supra-temporal (fronto-pariental) cortex. The study of the pattern of onset and spread of seizures originating in the post-rolandic areas and of their clinical correlates allow a topographic differential diagnosis.

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Perceptual Illusion of “Paradoxical Heat” Engages the Insular Cortex

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.00084.2004 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 92 (2) ◽

pp. 1248-1251 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

K. D. Davis ◽

G. E. Pope ◽

A. P. Crawley ◽

D. J. Mikulis

Keyword(s):

Skin Temperature ◽

Neurological Disorders ◽

Insular Cortex ◽

Perceptual Illusion ◽

Heat Sensation ◽

Skin Cooling ◽

Basic Understanding ◽

Heat Perception ◽

The Right

Paradoxical heat (PH), the illusion of skin heat, accompanies many neurological disorders. Using the technique of percept-related functional MRI, we found a region of the right insular cortex specifically activated when subjects perceive a heat sensation in their right hand even though their skin temperature is cool or at neutral. This region was suppressed during mild skin cooling. We propose that this differential response is a manifestation of the role of the insula in signaling temperature perceptions regardless of the actual temperature of the skin. These findings suggest that a region within the insula has a complex role in heat perception, perhaps contributing to a specific, rather than general, thermosensory perception. These data provide insight to our basic understanding of normal and pathological thermosensory perceptions.

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