Peak Experience and the Insula in Health and Illness
Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry October 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1002/pnp.12019 (opens in new tab)
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe insula, a key part of the salience network in the brain, is involved in peak experiences like romantic love, profound spirituality, and engagement with the arts, which can give people a sense of connection and meaning. These mental states can also occur in rare neuropsychiatric disorders. The text explores the research on this topic.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | The insula and associated structures are implicated in peak experiences such as romantic love, profound spirituality, and engagement with the arts, which can impart a sense of connection and meaning. |
Abstract
AbstractThree major neural networks exist in the human central nervous system—the executive function network, the default mode network and the salience network. A key component of the latter is the insula. The insula and associated structures is implicated in peak experiences such as romantic love, profound spirituality and engagement with the arts which can impart to those experiencing them a sublime sense of connection with something beyond themselves which helps give their lives meaning. This mental state can also occur in rare neuropsychiatric disorders; here, Dr Nicholson explores the research.