The insula is part of the cerebral cortex that lies deep in a fold of the brain called the lateral fissure, which is located between the frontal and parietal lobes. The insula, which is found in both the right and left hemispheres. The insula is theorized to play a large role in integrating salient self-representations, such as of bodily and emotional states. This occurs with increasing complexity from the posterior insula to the anterior insula – in other words, simple self-representations, which are processed in the posterior insula, are further elaborated in the mid- and anterior insula.