Insula for Emotions ?
Is the Insular an island for emotions ?
Non-invasive brain imaging reveals that the insular cortex is responsible for processing information from an array of often complex emotional and bodily states:
• pain,
• memory,
• empathy,
• emotions,
• gastric motility,
• sounds and music,
• language and speech,
• bio-mechanical movements,
• cravings for sweets, drugs, alcohol.
It is the wellspring of social emotions, like:
• laughter and crying,
• guilt and atonement,
• pride and humiliation,
• lust (orgasms) and disgust,
• norm violations and moral intuition.
Researchers at Yale recently identified two areas in the brain often associated with pain: the anterior cingulate cortex and insula cortex. They light up in response to (1) letting go of items you own and feel a connection to, and (2) when you feel physical pain from a cut or drinking coffee that’s too hot. The more you’ve committed financially or emotionally to something or someone, the more you want to stick with it.
Still hoarding clutter, cravings, or compulsions?