Hidden deep within the lateral sulcus, the insula integrates internal bodily signals with emotional and cognitive processing. It’s central to interoception — our sense of the internal state of the body — linking sensations like heartbeat, hunger, or pain to conscious awareness and emotional experience. The insula also contributes to empathy, risk assessment, and subjective feelings, acting as a bridge between physiological states and higher-order cognition. Its role in disorders ranging from anxiety to addiction highlights its influence on both bodily and emotional homeostasis.