The article by Vinod Menon and Lucina Q. Uddin presents a network model of the insula's function, emphasizing its role in mediating dynamic interactions between large-scale brain networks involved in attention and cognition. The insula, particularly the anterior division, is proposed as a hub in the salience network, which segregates relevant internal and external stimuli to guide behavior. The model suggests that the insula is sensitive to salient events and marks them for additional processing, initiating control signals. Key mechanisms include bottom-up detection of salient events, switching between networks to facilitate access to attention and working memory, interaction with the anterior cingulate cortex to modulate autonomic reactivity, and strong functional coupling with the ACC to facilitate motor system access. This framework provides insights into the insula's functions in neurotypical adults and may offer new perspectives on disorders of affective and social cognition. The authors discuss the structural and functional connectivity of the insula, highlighting its role in detecting salient stimuli and its interaction with the ACC in attentional control. They also explore the implications of insula dysfunction in conditions like anxiety disorders and autism.The article by Vinod Menon and Lucina Q. Uddin presents a network model of the insula's function, emphasizing its role in mediating dynamic interactions between large-scale brain networks involved in attention and cognition. The insula, particularly the anterior division, is proposed as a hub in the salience network, which segregates relevant internal and external stimuli to guide behavior. The model suggests that the insula is sensitive to salient events and marks them for additional processing, initiating control signals. Key mechanisms include bottom-up detection of salient events, switching between networks to facilitate access to attention and working memory, interaction with the anterior cingulate cortex to modulate autonomic reactivity, and strong functional coupling with the ACC to facilitate motor system access. This framework provides insights into the insula's functions in neurotypical adults and may offer new perspectives on disorders of affective and social cognition. The authors discuss the structural and functional connectivity of the insula, highlighting its role in detecting salient stimuli and its interaction with the ACC in attentional control. They also explore the implications of insula dysfunction in conditions like anxiety disorders and autism.