Brain activity during anesthesia shows language processing and prediction

Under anesthesia, the brain processes language and predicts sentence continuation, challenging previous assumptions about consciousness. New research indicates that deep brain structures, like the hippocampus, actively analyze words and grammar even when a person is unconscious. This was observed in epilepsy patients undergoing surgery. These findings could lead to better assessment and treatment for patients in comas or with severe brain injuries, potentially through targeted brain stimulation.