Insights from Ecstatic Epilepsy: From Uncertainty to Metacognitive Feelings.
Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences January 1, 2025 Nina M Sooter, Federico Seragnoli, Fabienne Picard
Ecstatic epilepsy, a rare focal epilepsy tied to the anterior insula, produces a blissful state characterized by physical well-being, mental clarity, oneness with the universe, and time dilation. This chapter examines how these symptoms align with known insula functions and uses the condition as a natural model to deepen understanding of the insula's role in the sentient self, monitoring uncertainty and surprise, and generating metacognitive feelings.