Spatial segregation of somato-sensory and pain activations in the human operculo-insular cortex

► Five different somatosensory stimuli were applied on the left hand of 25 volunteers. ► fMRI activations were described in the operculo-insular (OI) cortex. ► Somato-sensory functions were consistent with structural subdivisions. ► Each type of stimuli evoked a specific co-activation of several sub-regions. ► Spatial segregation of somatosensory and pain activations were found in the OI cortex.