Posterior insular cortex – a site of vestibular–somatosensory interaction?. Issue 5 (23rd July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baier, Bernhard; Eulenburg, Peter zu; Best, Christoph; Geber, Christian; Müller‐Forell, Wibke; Birklein, Frank; Dieterich, Marianne
• Is Part Of: Brain and behavior. Volume 3:Issue 5(2013:Sep.)
• Page Start: 519
• Page End: 524
• Publication Date: 2013-07-23
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8005
• DOI: 10.1002/brb3.155
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2162-3279

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="brb3155-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="brb3153-sec-0101" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>In previous imaging studies the insular cortex (IC) has been identified as an essential part of the processing of a wide spectrum of perception and sensorimotor integration. Yet, there are no systematic lesion studies in a sufficient number of patients examining whether processing of vestibular and the interaction of somatosensory and vestibular signals take place in the IC.</p> </sec> <sec id="brb3153-sec-0102" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>We investigated acute stroke patients with lesions affecting the IC in order to fill this gap. In detail, we explored signs of a vestibular tone imbalance such as the deviation of the subjective visual vertical (SVV). We applied voxel‐lesion behaviour mapping analysis in 27 patients with acute unilateral stroke.</p> </sec> <sec id="brb3153-sec-0103" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Our data demonstrate that patients with lesions of the posterior IC have an abnormal tilt of SVV. Furthermore, re‐analysing data of 20 patients from a previous study, we found a positive correlation between thermal perception contralateral to the stroke and the severity of the SVV tilt.</p> </sec> <sec id="brb3153-sec-0104" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>We conclude that the IC is a sensory brain region where different modalities might interact.</p> </sec> </abstract>