The role of the insular cortex in the control of visceral functions

The purpose of this review is to discuss the experimental evidence of the participation of the insular cortex in the regulation of visceral functions: respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal ones. The data on the structure and connections of the insular cortex and the results of neurophysiological experiments and clinical observations are presented. We consider experimental evidence of viscerotopic organization of both sensory and motor projections of visceral systems in the insular cortex, which is why it is defined as the sensorimotor cortex. We present evidence that one of the mechanisms of the insular cortex effect on the regulation of the activity of internal organs is the modulation of reflex reactions at the bulbar level.