The interaction between language and consciousness.
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews January 1, 2026 Charlène Aubinet, Olivia Gosseries, Steve Majerus
Language and consciousness interact in complex ways, with high-level semantic and sentence integration requiring conscious processing, while lower-level phonetic, phonological, and lexico-semantic processes can function without consciousness. Evidence from neuroimaging, cognitive, and neuropsychological studies shows parallel recovery trajectories between aspects of language and states of consciousness, and language processing may influence consciousness content or precede the reemergence of consciousness. Associations between language processing and higher-order conscious thought exist, but observed links may reflect broader integration disruptions rather than language-specific mechanisms. Theoretical implications and methodological challenges, especially regarding causal direction, are discussed.