The pathoconnectivity network analysis of the insular cortex: A morphometric fingerprinting

Brain disorders tend to impact on many different regions in a typical way: alterations do not spread randomly; rather, they seem follow specific patterns of propagation that show strong overlap between pathologies. The insular cortex is one the brain areas more involved this phenomenon, as it seems be altered by wide range diseases. On these grounds we thoroughly investigated cortices analyzing their structural co-alteration. We therefore investigated, applying network analysis approach meta-analytic data, 1) what pattern gray matter alteration associated with each parcels; 2) whether or correlates and overlaps its functional connectivity; and, 3) behavioral profile related co-alteration pattern. All analyses were repeated considering two solutions: clusters another three. Our study confirmed most cerebral among cortical areas, exhibits dense including prevalence rather than sub-cortical regions. Regions frontal lobe are involved, while occipital less affected. Furthermore, co-activation greatly other. These findings provide significant evidence caused likely distributed according logic architecture, which hubs lie at center networks composed co-altered areas. For first time, shed light existing differences insula sub-regions even pathoconnectivity domain.