Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37520943›Full record

ArticleHeliyon2023

Insula neuroanatomical networks predict interoceptive awareness.

Alan S R Fermin, Takafumi Sasaoka, Toru Maekawa, Hui-Ling Chan, Maro G Machizawa, Go Okada, Yasumasa Okamoto, Shigeto Yamawaki

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Heliyon, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed
4.5field-weighted citation impact, top 5% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed, 20 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Decoding Transdiagnostic Subtypes in Emotional Disorders.CNS neuroscience & therapeutics · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Epigenetic manipulation of anterior insular cortex alters neural signals and cognitive control.Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2025
    Article
  9. Article
  10. Review
  11. Review
  12. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Alan S R FerminCenter for Brain, Mind and Kansei Sciences Research, Hiroshima University, 734-8553, Hiroshima city, Hiroshima, Japan.
Takafumi SasaokaCenter for Brain, Mind and Kansei Sciences Research, Hiroshima University, 734-8553, Hiroshima city, Hiroshima, Japan.
Toru MaekawaCenter for Brain, Mind and Kansei Sciences Research, Hiroshima University, 734-8553, Hiroshima city, Hiroshima, Japan.
Hui-Ling ChanCenter for Brain, Mind and Kansei Sciences Research, Hiroshima University, 734-8553, Hiroshima city, Hiroshima, Japan.
Maro G MachizawaCenter for Brain, Mind and Kansei Sciences Research, Hiroshima University, 734-8553, Hiroshima city, Hiroshima, Japan.
Go OkadaDepartment of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Hiroshima University, 734-8553, Hiroshima city, Hiroshima, Japan.
Yasumasa OkamotoDepartment of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Hiroshima University, 734-8553, Hiroshima city, Hiroshima, Japan.
Shigeto YamawakiCenter for Brain, Mind and Kansei Sciences Research, Hiroshima University, 734-8553, Hiroshima city, Hiroshima, Japan.
Hiroshima University · JP

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Interoceptive awareness (IA), the subjective and conscious perception of visceral and physiological signals from the body, has been associated with functions of cortical and subcortical neural systems involved in emotion control, mood and anxiety disorders. We recently hypothesized that IA and its contributions to mental health are realized by a brain interoception network (BIN) linking brain regions that receive ascending interoceptive information from the brainstem, such as the amygdala, insula and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). However, little evidence exists to support this hypothesis. In order to test this hypothesis, we used a publicly available dataset that contained both anatomical neuroimaging data and an objective measure of IA assessed with a heartbeat detection task. Whole-brain Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM) was used to investigate the association of IA with gray matter volume (GMV) and the structural covariance network (SCN) of the amygdala, insula and ACC. The relationship between IA and mental health was investigated with questionnaires that assessed depressive symptoms and anxiety. We found a positive correlation between IA and state anxiety, but not with depressive symptoms. In the VBM analysis, only the GMV of the left anterior insula showed a positive association with IA. A similar association was observed between the parcellated GMV of the left dorsal agranular insula, located in the anterior insula, and IA. The SCN linking the right dorsal agranular insula with the left dorsal agranular insula and left hyper-granular insula were positively correlated with IA. No association between GMV or SCN and depressive symptoms or anxiety were observed. These findings revealed a previously unknown association between IA, insula volume and intra-insula SCNs. These results may support development of non-invasive neuroimaging interventions, e.g., neurofeedback, seeking to improve IA and to prevent development of mental health problems, such anxiety disorders.

Indexed as

Active inferenceBrain interoception networkInsulaInteroceptionInteroceptive awareness

Identifiers

PMID37520943
PMCPMC10374932
OpenAlexW4384701519

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.