INSULA = ISLAND for EMOTIONS?
Insular Cortex 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 insular 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?
