Regulation of Behavior Based on Interoception

Abstract

It is well known that the insular cortex (Brodmann areas 13, 14, 15, and 16) located deep inside the Sylvian fissure is associated with mental functions such as perception, language, cognition, affect, and movement. In particular, the insular cortex has been linked to interoception, which is the representation of bodily physiological states that is used to regulate bodily states and mental functions. Recently, a common principle to explain such functions of the insular cortex has been proposed. The principle posits that the anterior insula generates predictions of future bodily states, computes the error by comparing the prediction with the actual sensory signals, and integrates the body with the mind by minimizing the prediction error. This article describes the functions of the insular cortex, and discusses the possibility that an error-minimizing function can affect decision-making to regulate behaviors.