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Still a “Hidden Island”? The Rodent Insular Cortex in Drug Seeking, Reward, and Risk
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Still a “Hidden Island”? The Rodent Insular Cortex in Drug Seeking, Reward, and Risk

Matthew S. McGregor and Ryan T. LaLumiere
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, Vol.153, 105334
10/2023
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105334
PMCID: PMC10592220
PMID: 37524140

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Abstract

MCGREGOR, M.S., and R.T. LaLumiere. Still a “hidden island”? The rodent insular cortex in drug seeking, reward, and risk. NEUROSCI BIOBEHAV REV 21(1) XXX-XXX, 2023.- The insular cortex (IC) is implicated in risky decision making and drug-seeking behaviors, in a manner dissociable from natural reward seeking. However, evidence from rodent studies of motivated behaviors suggests that the role of the IC is not always consistent across procedures. Moreover, there is evidence of dissociation of function between posterior (pIC) and anterior (aIC) subregions in these behaviors. Under which circumstances, and by which mechanisms, these IC subregions are recruited to regulate motivated behaviors remains unclear. Here, we discuss evidence of rodent pIC and aIC function across drug-related behaviors, natural reward seeking, and decision making under risk and highlight procedural differences that may account for seemingly conflicting findings. Although gaps in the literature persist, we hypothesize that IC activity is broadly important for selection of appropriate behaviors based on learned action-outcome contingencies and that associated risk is sufficient, but not necessary, to recruit the aIC in reward seeking without involving the pIC. •Rodent insular cortex (IC) manipulations affect specific motivated behaviors•Drugs of abuse recruit IC activity in a manner distinct from natural rewards•The IC regulates decision making under risk•Posterior and anterior IC subregions have dissociable roles in motivated behaviors•IC circuitry may select for appropriate behavior based on learned contingencies
Gambling addiction decision making drug seeking insula insular cortex motivated behavior reward seeking risk seeking

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