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Cited by 32Neurobiology of Language and BilingualismPhilosophy and Theoretical ScienceSocial Representations and Identity

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 454 of the 456 references it cites were found in a registry or an index, and 1 are not checked yet.

A voice without a mouth no more: The neurobiology of language and consciousness

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Skipper, Jeremy I.·2022·Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
DOI 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104772
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Abstract

Most research on the neurobiology of language ignores consciousness and vice versa. Here, language, with an emphasis on inner speech, is hypothesised to generate and sustain self-awareness, i.e., higher-order consciousness. Converging evidence supporting this hypothesis is reviewed. To account for these findings, a 'HOLISTIC' model of neurobiology of language, inner speech, and consciousness is proposed. It involves a 'core' set of inner speech production regions that initiate the experience of feeling and hearing words. These take on affective qualities, deriving from activation of associated sensory, motor, and emotional representations, involving a largely unconscious dynamic 'periphery', distributed throughout the whole brain. Responding to those words forms the basis for sustained network activity, involving 'default mode' activation and prefrontal and thalamic/brainstem selection of contextually relevant responses. Evidence for the model is reviewed, supporting neuroimaging meta-analyses conducted, and comparisons with other theories of consciousness made. The HOLISTIC model constitutes a more parsimonious and complete account of the 'neural correlates of consciousness' that has implications for a mechanistic account of mental health and wellbeing.

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. James, 1890, Princ. Psychol., Vol I
  2. Morin, 2018, The self-reflective functions of inner speech: Thirteen years later, Inn. Speech.: N. Voices, 276
  3. Puchalska-Wasyl, 2008, From Internal Interlocutors to Psychological Functions of Dialogical, Act. J. Constr. Psychol., 21, 239
  4. Shahidi, 2021, Predicting self-regulation through inner speech reflexivity modes, Lang., Discourse Soc., 9

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Metadata

Authors
Skipper, J. I.
Affiliations
University College London (GB)
Corresponding author
Skipper, Jeremy I.
ORCID
Skipper, Jeremy I.
Venue
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-09
Volume
140
Pages
104772
ISSN
0149-7634 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104772
OpenAlex
W4285008516
Cited by
31
References
456
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 1
FWCI
0.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
Funders
University College London
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Philosophy and Theoretical Science
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Social Representations and Identity
Keywords
neurobiology of language, consciousness, inner speech, self-awareness, higher-order consciousness, neural correlates of consciousness, holistic model, default mode network, prefrontal cortex, thalamus, brainstem, mental health, well-being
MeSH terms
Brain, Consciousness, Humans, Language, Mouth, Neurobiology

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