title: Neural correlates of electrointestinography: insular activity modulated by signals recorded from the abdominal surface.
abstract: Although the neural correlates that underlie abdominal pain have been investigated, so-called brain processes involved in modulating "gut feelings" remain unclear. In the current study, we used electrointestinography (EIG) to measure intestinal activity of healthy humans at rest. EIG measured myoelectrical activity of intestinal smooth muscles from the abdominal surface and was simultaneously conducted along with brain activity measurement using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Correlations between the frequency powers of EIG and fMRI signals during 30min of rest were then examined to elucidate gut-brain interactions. Neural activity correlating with 0.14- to 0.21-Hz EIG (suggested to reflect intestinal activity) was observed in the right anterior and middle insula. Moreover, this EIG frequency band correlated with anxiety scores along with resting-state functional connectivity between the insula and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. These findings suggest that the insular cortex could be the core region involved in central visceral processes associated with subjective feelings.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Symbolic Cognitive Development, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako City 351-0198, Japan; Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryocho, Aobaku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan. Electronic address: thashimoto@idac.tohoku.ac.jp.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.affiliation: Rhythm-based Brain Information Processing Unit, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako City 351-0198, Japan; Laboratory for Advance Brain Signal Processing, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako City 351-0198, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kitajo
authors.affiliation: Rhythm-based Brain Information Processing Unit, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako City 351-0198, Japan; Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguroku, Tokyo 153, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kajihara
authors.affiliation: Support Unit for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako City 351-0198, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.affiliation: Support Unit for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako City 351-0198, Japan.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Support Unit for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako City 351-0198, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asamizuya
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Symbolic Cognitive Development, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako City 351-0198, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iriki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004568:Electrodiagnosis / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012146:Rest; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: autonomic; fMRI; gut; resting-state functional connectivity; viscera