Cited by 435Neural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesFunctional Brain Connectivity StudiesVisual perception and processing mechanisms

Role of the anterior insula in task-level control and focal attention

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Nelson, Steven M., Dosenbach, Nico U. F., Cohen, Alexander L., Wheeler, Mark E., Schlaggar, Bradley L., Petersen, Steven E.·2010·Brain Structure and Function

Abstract

In humans, the anterior insula (aI) has been the topic of considerable research and ascribed a vast number of functional properties by way of neuroimaging and lesion studies. Here, we argue that the aI, at least in part, plays a role in domain-general attentional control and highlight studies (Dosenbach et al. 2006; Dosenbach et al. 2007) supporting this view. Additionally, we discuss a study (Ploran et al. 2007) that implicates aI in processes related to the capture of focal attention. Task-level control and focal attention may or may not reflect information processing supported by a single functional area (within the aI). Therefore, we apply a novel technique (Cohen et al. 2008) that utilizes resting state functional connectivity MRI (rs-fcMRI) to determine whether separable regions exist within the aI. rs-fcMRI mapping suggests that the ventral portion of the aI is distinguishable from more dorsal/anterior regions, which are themselves distinct from more posterior parts of the aI. When these regions are applied to functional MRI (fMRI) data, the ventral and dorsal/anterior regions support processes potentially related to both task-level control and focal attention, whereas the more posterior aI regions did not. These findings suggest that there exists some functional heterogeneity within aI that may subserve related but distinct types of higher-order cognitive processing.

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Authors
Nelson, S. M., Dosenbach, N. U. F., Cohen, A. L., Wheeler, M. E., Schlaggar, B. L., & Petersen, S. E.
Affiliations
  • Washington University in St. Louis (US)
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
Corresponding author
Nelson, Steven M.
Venue
Brain Structure and Function
Published
2010-05-29
Volume
214
Issue
5-6
Pages
669-680
ISSN
  • 1863-2653 (ISSN-L)
  • 1863-2661
OpenAlex
W1973254033
Cited by
435
References
65
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 34 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 37 · 2015: 41 · 2014: 31 · 2013: 48 · 2012: 28
FWCI
2.34
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc
Locations
  • Brain Structure and Function (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS046424, K02NS053425, F30NS062489, NS46424, NS61144, NS62489, NS 41255, R21NS041255, NS53425, R21NS061144)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD057076, HD57076)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
Keywords
anterior insula, task-level control, focal attention, resting-state functional connectivity, functional heterogeneity, cognitive control, attentional capture
MeSH terms
Attention, Brain Mapping, Cerebral Cortex, Cognition, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Nerve Net, Neural Pathways, Executive Function

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