The insular cortex (INS) is extensively connected to the central nucleus of the amygdala (CEA), and both regions send convergent projections into the caudal lateral hypothalamus (LHA) encompassing the parasubthalamic nucleus (PSTN). However, the organization of the network between these structures has not been clearly delineated in the literature, although there has been an upsurge in functional studies related to these structures, especially with regard to the cognitive and psychopathological control of feeding. We conducted tract-tracing experiments from the INS and observed a pathway to the PSTN region that runs parallel to the canonical hyperdirect pathway from the isocortex to the subthalamic nucleus (STN) adjacent to the PSTN. In addition, an indirect pathway with a relay in the central amygdala was also observed that is similar in its structure to the classic indirect pathway of the basal ganglia that also targets the STN. C-Fos experiments showed that the PSTN complex reacts to neophobia and sickness induced by lipopolysaccharide or cisplatin. Chemogenetic (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs [DREADD]) inhibition of tachykininergic neurons (Tac1) in the PSTN revealed that this nucleus gates a stop “no-eat” signal to refrain from feeding when the animal is subjected to sickness or exposed to a previously unknown source of food. Therefore, our anatomical findings in rats and mice indicate that the INS-PSTN network is organized in a similar manner as the hyperdirect and indirect basal ganglia circuitry. Functionally, the PSTN is involved in gating feeding behavior, which is conceptually homologous to the motor no-go response of the adjacent STN.

岛上皮层（INS）广泛连接到杏仁核（CEA）的中央核，并且两个区域都向会聚丘脑膜下丘脑核（PSTN）的尾外侧下丘脑（LHA）发送会聚的投影。然而，尽管与这些结构相关的功能研究（尤其是在喂养的认知和心理病理控制方面）已经出现了热潮，但是在文献中并未明确描述这些结构之间的网络组织。我们从INS进行了管道追踪实验，观察到PSTN区域的路径与从同皮质到与PSTN相邻的丘脑底核（STN）的规范超直接路径平行。此外，还观察到在中央杏仁核中具有中继的间接途径，其结构与也靶向STN的基底神经节的经典间接途径相似。C-Fos实验表明PSTN复合物对脂多糖或顺铂诱导的新恐惧症和疾病产生反应。对PSTN中速激肽能神经元（Tac1）的化学生成（设计剂受体仅由设计剂药物激活[DREADD]激活）显示，该核门控了一个停止的“无食”信号，当动物患病或暴露于该疾病时不进食以前未知的食物来源。因此，我们在大鼠和小鼠中的解剖学发现表明，INS-PSTN网络的组织方式与超直接和间接基底神经节电路类似。在功能上