The insular cortex and taste novelty

The insular cortex contains the primary gustatory cortex, but its role in taste function remains controversial. Permanent lesions or temporary inactivation of this region have no impact in taste perception or discrimination, or in the familiarization to tastes, but suggest that it may be critical in perceiving taste novelty and safety. Current experimental evidence shows that the taste region within the IC is involved in taste neophobia and in conditioned taste aversion (CTA), the first and second lines of defense against the consumption of potentially harmful foods. Here we summarize the evidence to date for a role of the IC in taste function in general, with emphasis on taste novelty and neophobia.