Insula Activation and What it May Tell Us About Food Motivation in Anorexia Nervosa: A Systematic Literature Review

• Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe psychiatric disorder characterized by recurrent refusal of caloric intake, resulting in emaciation. • Identifying whether neural networks that process food-related stimuli are affected in AN is important for understanding the biological basis of this illness, particularly severe food restriction. • The insular cortex is a key area that has been implicated; this brain region is associated with interoceptive awareness and gustation