Cited by 598Substance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorPsychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments

The insula and drug addiction: an interoceptive view of pleasure, urges, and decision-making

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Naqvi, Nasir H., Bechara, Antoine·2010·Brain Structure and Function

Abstract

We have recently shown that damage to the insula leads to a profound disruption of addiction to cigarette smoking (Naqvi et al., Science 315:531-534, 2007). Yet, there is little understanding of why the insula should play such an important role in an addictive behavior. A broad literature (much of it reviewed in this issue) has addressed the role of the insula in processes related to conscious interoception, emotional experience, and decision-making. Here, we review evidence for the role of the insula in drug addiction, and propose a novel theoretical framework for addiction in which the insula represents the interoceptive effects of drug taking, making this information available to conscious awareness, memory and executive functions. A central theme of this framework is that a primary goal for the addicted individual is to obtain the effects of the drug use ritual upon the body, and representations of this goal in interoceptive terms by the insula contribute to how addicted individuals feel, remember, and decide about taking drugs. This makes drug addiction like naturally motivated behaviors, such as eating and sex, for which an embodied ritual is the primary goal.

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Authors
Naqvi, N. H., & Bechara, A.
Affiliations
  • New York State Psychiatric Institute (US)
  • University of Southern California (US)
Corresponding author
Naqvi, Nasir H.
Venue
Brain Structure and Function
Published
2010-05-29
Volume
214
Issue
5-6
Pages
435-450
ISSN
  • 1863-2653 (ISSN-L)
  • 1863-2661
OpenAlex
W1976397511
Cited by
598
References
112
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 41 · 2020: 98 · 2019: 46 · 2018: 44 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 38 · 2015: 36 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 46 · 2012: 22
FWCI
3.17
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Brain Structure and Function (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R25MH086466)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA023051)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (T32GM007337)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
Keywords
insula, drug addiction, interoception, decision-making, executive function, memory, embodied ritual, conscious awareness
MeSH terms
Animals, Awareness, Cerebral Cortex, Humans, Impulsive Behavior, Self Concept, Substance-Related Disorders, Pleasure

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