The organization of insular cortex projections to the amygdaloid central nucleus and autonomic regulatory nuclei of the dorsal medulla.

Using the fluorescent dye, double retrograde-labeling tracing technique, separate populations of insular cortex neurons were demonstrated to project to the amygdaloid central nucleus and to autonomic nuclei of the dorsal medulla. Both populations were located in layer V of the agranular and granular insula with neurons projecting to the dorsal medulla demonstrating a more medial distribution. The results yield additional detail on the organization of forebrain areas involved in autonomic regulation.