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Modulation of EEG Connectivity by Insular Cortex Stimulation: Frequency-Specific Effects and Interoceptive Implications

Authors :

Ramin Aghili Karampour¹ Alireza Fallahi² Reza Kazemi³

1- دانشگاه صنعتی همدان 2- دانشگاه صنعتی همدان 3- دانشگاه تهران

Keywords :

EEG connectivity،Insula،Interception،Brain networks،Neuromodulation،tDCS

Abstract :

This study examined the impact of targeted insular stimulation on EEG-based brain connectivity across multiple frequency subbands, using both correlation and coherence analyses. EEG recordings were obtained from healthy participants before and after transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the insula. To identify significant channel-to-channel interactions, p-value matrices and heatmaps were generated for each subband. The results revealed that insular stimulation induced notable changes in connectivity, particularly within central and posterior regions, with the alpha and beta subbands showing the highest number of significant connections. Correlation analysis demonstrated greater sensitivity in the alpha and theta bands, while coherence was more effective in detecting changes within the beta and gamma bands, highlighting subband- and method-specific modulation patterns. Beyond its involvement in cognitive and sensory networks, the findings underscore the insula’s central role in interoception—integrating bodily signals such as cardiac and visceral inputs to support self-awareness and emotional regulation. Overall, this study demonstrates that targeted insular stimulation can enhance functional interactions within sensory, cognitive, and interoceptive networks, supporting its potential application in neuromodulation-based interventions.