Understanding internal states is a prominent challenge in neuroscience, particularly when it comes to defining and expressing emotions across different species. The brain mechanisms responsible for driving evolutionarily conserved behaviors tied to internal states remain elusive. Ticklishness, a unique sensation observed in social species ranging from rodents to humans, is characterized by the emission of appetitive 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations in response to tickling. Previous research (Ishiyama & Brecht, 2016) identified the activation of the trunk somatosensory cortex (S1) during tickling, with microstimulation in S1 deep layers evoking vocalizations, highlighting the rewarding nature of tickling. This study focuses on the insula, a central hub for emotional processing that receives inputs from sensory areas. In vivo extracellular recordings during tickling and no-contact play revealed the activation of insular neurons, emphasizing its response to playful contexts. Hierarchical clustering identified units with consistent response patterns to tickling across various playful events, indicating a specific insular involvement. Pharmacological manipulations of the global insula had no impact on play behavior, suggesting a complex interplay of neural circuits. Our preliminary results suggest that the insula, through anatomical, functional and physiological correlates, might be implicated in the processing of tickle-induced playful emotions. We will further continue investigating potential circuits involved in the modulation of ticklish emotional response.