Prevailing theories hold that the insula is functionally organized along its caudal-to-rostral axis, with posterior regions coding lower-level sensory information and anterior regions coding higher-level stimulus significance relative to the body's homeostatic needs. Contrary to predictions of this model, the response of the taste-sensitive region of the caudal, but not rostral, insula to food images was directly related to the body's homeostatic state as indexed by levels of peripheral glucose.
Click here to read The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation's summary of Dr. Simmon's findings.
Click here to read The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation's summary of Dr. Simmon's findings.