The Insular Cortex Dynamically Maps Changes in Cardiorespiratory Interoception.

ABSTRACT: Palpitations and dyspnea are fundamental to the human experience of panic anxiety, but it remains unclear how the brain dynamically represents changes in these interoceptive sensations. We used isoproterenol, a rapidly acting peripheral beta-adrenergic agonist similar to adrenaline, to induce sensations of palpitation and dyspnea in healthy individuals (n=23) during arterial spin labeling functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We hypothesized that the right mid-insular cortex, a central recipient of viscerosensory input, would preferentially respond during the peak period of cardiorespiratory stimulation. Bolus infusions of saline and isoproterenol (1 or 2 μg) were administered in a blinded manner while participants continuously rated the intensity of their cardiorespiratory sensati

SUBMITTER: Hassanpour MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5729563 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature