Research shows that the brain processes Klingons and other conlangs using the same mechanisms as natural language.

Exploring the nature of language has piqued the interest of various fields, from philosophy and linguistics to psychology, anthropology, and sociology. Researchers have taken an empirical approach to investigate whether the brain systems involved in processing natural language are also utilized in other symbolic systems like mathematics and programming languages. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), neuroscientists at MIT studied brain responses to constructed languages (Conrans) that exhibit features of both natural and programming languages. The results showed that these Conrans are processed by the same brain network responsible for processing natural language. This suggests that symbolic systems can convey a wide range of meanings about the world, underscoring the essence of language.

“Constructed languages show a striking similarity to natural languages in terms of brain activation patterns, implying that the fundamental functions required to engage with these systems may be linked to the types of meanings they can convey,” explained postdoctoral researcher Saima Malik-Moraleda.

The study sheds light on the core characteristics of languages, suggesting that languages can be intentionally created without the need for natural evolution or a large user base.

The research contributes to the empirical understanding of language by analyzing brain responses to various linguistic stimuli in a controlled environment.

In contrast to natural languages that evolve organically within communities over time, Conrans are typically devised by individual creators who determine the vocabulary, grammar rules, and conceptual labels.

Researchers organized a gathering in November 2022, inviting speakers of constructed languages such as Esperanto, Klingon, Navi, High Valyrian, and Dothraki to participate in brain imaging studies.

“The event provided an engaging platform for language communities to collaborate, enabling us to collect valuable data over the course of the weekend,” said Malik-Moraleda.

Using fMRI scans, scientists observed similar brain activation patterns in participants when exposed to sentences in their native language and in constructed languages, highlighting the shared neural mechanisms involved in processing linguistic information.

This discovery illuminates the essential functions necessary for language comprehension in the brain.

Both natural and constructed languages are capable of conveying meanings related to the external and internal worlds, focusing on objects, properties, and events. However, programming languages differ in their abstract nature.

While natural languages encompass unique features that are absent in constructed languages, the neural responses to linguistic stimuli remain consistent across varied language systems.

“The brain regions engaged by constructed languages do not depend on their historical presence or the size of their user base, as evidenced by our findings,” Malik-Moraleda emphasized.

Survey results will be published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Saima Malik-Moraleda et al. 2025. The constructed language is processed by the same brain mechanism as natural language. pnas 122 (12): E2313473122; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2313473122