Areas characterized by the presence of von Economo’s neurons (VENs) in the human brain. Red: the anterior insula, Pink: Brodmann area 9 frontal cortex, Brown: Brodmann area 24 anterior cingulate cortex. Different intensities in the colors stand for different densities of VENs, which are more frequent on the right than on the left side in area 9 and in the anterior insula, and in cingulate area 24a > 24b > 24c.