Hidden Brain Map Found, Potential Boost for Epilepsy Care

Discovery of organized body map in insula could help surgeons avoid speech, movement deficits

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Researchers at Mayo Clinic have discovered that a small, buried brain region called the insula contains its own organized map of the body, with distinct areas linked to movement of the hands, feet, and tongue. This finding could help surgeons better anticipate and avoid temporary speech, swallowing or hand movement problems that can occur in up to 30% of patients after epilepsy procedures in or near the insula.

Why it matters

The insula sits several centimeters beneath the brain's surface, making it difficult to study with traditional techniques. This discovery expands the understanding of how movement is supported by a distributed brain network, and could make brain surgery and neuromodulation treatments safer, more precise, and beneficial for more people with epilepsy, stroke, and other movement disorders.

The details

In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers studied 18 patients with medically refractory epilepsy who had thin recording electrodes placed deep in their brains. While hospitalized, the patients performed simple movements, and the electrodes recorded electrical activity in both the insula and the primary motor cortex. The results showed clear organization, with hand movements activating one area of the insula, tongue movements another, and foot movements yet another, though less prominently. The timing of activity also revealed that the insula is not simply reacting after movement, but is part of an integrated brain network supporting movement.

  • The study was published on February 18, 2026.

The players

Panos Kerezoudis, M.D.

A Mayo Clinic neurosurgery resident and lead author of the study.

Kai Miller, M.D., Ph.D.

A Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon and senior author of the study.

Mayo Clinic

The institution where the research was conducted, known for its Bioelectronic Neuromodulation Innovation to Cure (BIONIC) initiative and Pre-cure program focused on anticipating and preventing complications.

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What they’re saying

“If we can identify where hand and speech functions live in each patient, we can better anticipate - and potentially avoid - those deficits. This gives us a practical roadmap.”

— Panos Kerezoudis, M.D., Mayo Clinic neurosurgery resident and lead author (Mirage News)

“This discovery expands our understanding of how movement is supported by a distributed brain network whose parts are more tightly integrated than we previously thought. By mapping it carefully, we can make brain surgery and neuromodulation safer, more precise, and beneficial for more people.”

— Kai Miller, M.D., Ph.D., Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon and senior author (Mirage News)

What’s next

The researchers plan to further study the insula's role in movement and communication with other brain regions, with the goal of developing more targeted treatments for epilepsy, stroke, and other neurological disorders.

The takeaway

This discovery of an organized body map within the insula, a previously understudied brain region, could lead to significant improvements in epilepsy care and other neurological treatments by allowing surgeons to better anticipate and avoid potential side effects, as well as inform the development of more precise brain stimulation therapies.