2026

Abstract Submissions

Abstract Submissions are Closed.

Membership Requirements

Abstracts are submitted through your SNL account. You must be a member to submit an abstract. Members may submit more than one abstract. The first author must be a current SNL member.

Abstract Format

Abstracts are limited to 500 words (not including the title, authors, and affiliations). The submission system does not allow figures in abstracts or the uploading of supplemental materials. Multiple submissions per first author are allowed. The abstract submission form allows you to specify whether you would prefer a Slide or Poster presentation.

The standard elements of an abstract are Introduction, Methods, Results, and Conclusion or Summary. It is not required that the sections be explicitly labeled as such. It is, however, important that each abstract contains sufficiently detailed descriptions of the methods and the results.

Submissions other than empirical and review studies will be considered (e.g. development of educational resources, historical studies, etc.) so long as they are focused on the neurobiology of language. Such submissions may deviate from the typical abstract format as appropriate. All abstracts will be peer-reviewed.

Sandbox Series

SNL is pleased to once again offer the Sandbox Series, an optional designation for poster abstracts, which will allow presenters to solicit input regarding planned work or work in progress. These posters will describe the motivation and design of the study and discuss how potential outcomes would be interpreted. Pilot data, partially collected data, or partially analyzed data may be included. Abstracts should highlight the preliminary nature of the findings. Abstracts in the Sandbox Series may not necessarily include all the standard elements as listed under “Abstract Format”.

Submitting Your Abstract

Please complete your submission carefully. All abstracts must be in final form. Authors may edit abstracts online until the submission deadline. After the submission deadline, no typos or other errors may be corrected.

The submission fee is $40.00. Submission fees are non-refundable.

Submissions Schedule

Submissions Open: March 9, 2026
Deadline to Submit: May 26, 2026 - Extended
Notifications Sent: June 29, 2026

Abstract Submissions are Closed.

SNL Account Login

News

2026 Membership is Open - Renew Now!

Meeting Registration is Open.

Symposium Submissions are Closed.

Abstract Submissions are Closed.

Board of Directors Election is Closed.

See Dates & Deadlines for other important dates.

Keynote Lecture

©Genève Tourisme, Loris von Siebenthal

Roy Hamilton

Stimulating Conversations: Using Noninvasive Neuromodulation Approaches to Characterize the Language System and Treat Aphasia

Speaker: Roy Hamilton, MD, MS, FAAN, FANA

In this talk, Dr. Roy H. Hamilton will discuss the use of noninvasive brain stimulation as a tool for both characterizing and treating aphasia, with a particular focus on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The lecture will highlight the dual role of neuromodulation techniques like TMS in translational cognitive neuroscience, serving both as a therapeutic intervention and as an experimental probe of brain plasticity. While multiple brain regions have been targeted with TMS for the treatment of aphasia, this talk will focus primarily on converging evidence demonstrating that inhibitory TMS applied to the right inferior frontal gyrus, particularly the pars triangularis, can improve language performance in individuals with chronic post stroke aphasia. Dr. Hamilton will then discuss emerging approaches aimed at better understanding the factors that predict individual responsiveness to neuromodulation interventions, including insights from network neuroscience and machine learning–based models. He will conclude by addressing ongoing challenges and future opportunities for moving noninvasive brain stimulation for aphasia from experimental promise toward reliable, personalized clinical application.

About Roy Hamilton

Roy Hamilton, MD, MS, FAAN, FANA, is a professor in the departments of Neurology with secondary appointments in Psychiatry, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pennsylvania. He directs the Laboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation (LCNS) and Brain Stimulation, Translation, Innovation, and Modulation (brainSTIM) Center. A leading expert in noninvasive neuromodulation, he uses brain stimulation, neuroimaging, and behavioral methods to study functional plasticity in healthy and injured brains. His research principally focuses on improving aphasia and other cognitive deficits associated with neurological disorders. Continuously funded by US federal grants and foundation awards since 2008, Dr. Hamilton has received numerous accolades for excellence in research, education, and civic engagement, including the Norman Geschwind Prize in Behavioral Neurology, Leonard Berwick Memorial Teaching Award for bridging basic science and clinical education, American Neurological Association Audrey Penn Lectureship, and the American Academy of Neurology H. Houston Merritt Lectureship Award for excellence in clinically relevant research and education.

SNL Account Login

News

2026 Membership is Open - Renew Now!

Meeting Registration is Open.

Symposium Submissions are Closed.

Abstract Submissions are Closed.

Board of Directors Election is Closed.

See Dates & Deadlines for other important dates.

Keynote Lecture

©Genève Tourisme, Loris von Siebenthal

Yanchao Bi

Weaving Language and Vision in the Human Brain

Speaker: Yanchao Bi, PhD, Peking University

Human semantic knowledge extends far beyond what can be learned from direct sensory experience. We know that birds descended from dinosaurs and that freedom differs from democracy, despite never perceiving such relations directly. How does the human brain acquire and represent such knowledge? In this talk, I will present evidence from populations with profoundly different sensory and language experiences, nonhuman primates, neuropsychological patients, and computational models. Together, these studies suggest that human semantic knowledge is supported by both sensory-grounded and language-mediated representations, which interact to shape how knowledge is acquired and organized in the brain. Beyond communication, language enables knowledge to extend beyond individual experience and may provide a neurocognitive foundation for cumulative human knowledge.

About Yanchao Bi

Yanchao Bi is a Boya professor in School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, and Institute for Artificial Intelligence, at Peking University. She received her PhD from the Department of Psychology, Harvard University, working on the cognitive process of language in the laboratory of Dr. Alfonso Caramazza. In 2006 she established her laboratory at Beijing Normal University and moved to Peking University in 2024. Her lab focuses on the study of functional and neural architecture associated with semantic memory, knowledge representation, and language processing, using cognitive psychology, cognitive neuroscience, multi-modal neuroimaging, computation modeling and other research methods.

SNL Account Login

News

2026 Membership is Open - Renew Now!

Meeting Registration is Open.

Symposium Submissions are Closed.

Abstract Submissions are Closed.

Board of Directors Election is Closed.

See Dates & Deadlines for other important dates.

Keynote Lectures

©Genève Tourisme, Loris von Siebenthal

SNL Account Login

News

2026 Membership is Open - Renew Now!

Meeting Registration is Open.

Symposium Submissions are Closed.

Abstract Submissions are Closed.

Board of Directors Election is Closed.

See Dates & Deadlines for other important dates.

Visit Geneva

©Switzerland Tourism, Nicola FuererJan Geerk

Discover the City

Take time to discover everything Geneva has to offer, from its lakeside views to its historic Old Town and vibrant international atmosphere. Whether you’re interested in culture, history, shopping, or scenic walks along Lake Geneva, the city offers something for everyone. Start planning your exploration by visiting the official tourism site here.

See & Do

Looking for activities between or after conference sessions? Geneva features world-class museums, beautiful parks, boat cruises, and iconic landmarks that are all easily accessible. Browse a wide range of attractions and experiences to make the most of your stay here.

Eat & Drink

From traditional Swiss cuisine to international fine dining, Geneva’s culinary scene reflects its global character. Enjoy cozy cafés, lakeside restaurants, local chocolate shops, and vibrant wine bars throughout the city. Explore dining recommendations, culinary highlights, and more here.

Geneva City Pass

The Geneva City Pass allows you to discover the diversity and treasures of the city with discounts or free entries to 60 activities. As participants at SNL2026, you benefit from a 20% discount on the various city card offers (24h, 48h or 72h). For more information: https://www.geneve.com/en/plan-a-trip/geneva-city-pass-attractions#/ If you wish to obtain the discount code applicable when purchasing your city pass on the Geneva Tourism website (above), please contact

Use the left handside bar to (de)select the categories of interest among key locations, food & drinks, must-see and more!

SNL Account Login

News

2026 Membership is Open - Renew Now!

Meeting Registration is Open.

Symposium Submissions are Closed.

Abstract Submissions are Closed.

Board of Directors Election is Closed.

See Dates & Deadlines for other important dates.

Transportation

©Switzerland Tourism, Nicola FuererJan Geerk

Geneva is an international city with excellent air, rail, and public transportation connections. Below is some helpful information for planning your travel to the SNL 2026 Annual Meeting.

Traveling to Geneva by Air

Geneva Airport (GVA) is the primary airport serving Geneva and is located just a few kilometers from the city center.

Geneva Airport has direct connections to many European cities as well as select international destinations. Travelers arriving from North America or other locations without nonstop service can easily connect through major European hubs.

SNL attendees may also be eligible for discounted airfare. Visit our Flight Discount page for additional information.

Traveling to Geneva by Train

Geneva is very well connected to destinations throughout Switzerland and neighboring countries by rail.

Geneva-Cornavin is the city's main railway station and provides connections throughout Switzerland as well as international rail service.

For schedules, fares, and journey planning, visit: Swiss Federal Railways (SBB/CFF)

Getting from Geneva Airport to the City

Getting from Geneva Airport to central Geneva is quick and easy.

By Train

The train is one of the easiest ways to reach central Geneva. The railway station is located directly at Geneva Airport, and all trains departing from the airport stop at Geneva-Cornavin, Geneva's main railway station. See Geneva Airport Train Information.

Travel time: approximately 7 minutes
Trains operate frequently throughout the day
Geneva-Cornavin provides easy connections to local public transportation and hotels throughout the city

By Bus

Several public bus routes also connect Geneva Airport with the city and surrounding areas. Visit Geneva Airport Public Transportation.

By Taxi

Taxis are available outside the airport Arrivals area. Travel time to central Geneva varies depending on traffic.

Free Geneva Transport Card

One of the benefits of staying in Geneva is free public transportation!

Visitors staying in a hotel, youth hostel, or campsite in Geneva are eligible for the Geneva Transport Card, which provides unlimited use of Geneva's public transportation network for the duration of their stay.

The card includes:

Trams
Buses
Trains within Geneva's Zone 10
Geneva's Mouettes yellow shuttle boats

Your accommodation can provide your digital Geneva Transport Card before your arrival, allowing you to use public transportation from Geneva Airport to your hotel at no charge.

Getting Around Geneva

For information on public transportation and how to get around Geneva, we encourage you to review the resources provided by the city. Geneva offers an efficient and well-connected network of trams, buses, trains, and even boat shuttles, making it easy to navigate between conference venues, hotels, and local attractions. You can find detailed guidance, maps, ticketing information, and travel tips by visiting the official tourism page here.

SNL Account Login

News

2026 Membership is Open - Renew Now!

Meeting Registration is Open.

Symposium Submissions are Closed.

Abstract Submissions are Closed.

Board of Directors Election is Closed.

See Dates & Deadlines for other important dates.

Dates & Deadlines

Deadlines shown bold.

Date	Item
March 4, 2026	Symposium Submissions Open
March 9, 2026	Abstract Submissions Open
March 25, 2026	Deadline to Submit a Symposium Submission
April 1, 2026	Board of Directors Nominations Open
April 2, 2026	Early Career Award Nominations Open
April 2, 2026	Dissertation Award Nominations Open
April 6, 2026	Symposium Notifications Sent
April 7, 2026	Distinguished Career Award Nominations Open
April 30, 2026	Deadline to Submit a Board of Directors Nomination
May 4, 2026	Deadline to Submit an Early Career Award Nomination
May 4, 2026	Deadline to Submit a Dissertation Award Nomination
May 18, 2026	Deadline to Submit a Distinguished Career Award Nomination
May 26, 2026 - Extended	Deadline to Submit an Abstract Submission
June 5, 2026	Registration Opens
June 8, 2026	Board of Directors Election Opens
June 16, 2026	Caregiver Support Applications Open
June 26, 2026	Early Career Award Recipients Announced
June 26, 2026	Dissertation Award Recipient Announced
June 29, 2026	Notification of Accepted Abstracts Sent
July 6, 2026	Caregiver Support Applications Close
July 6, 2026	Deadline to Vote in the Board of Directors Election
July 15, 2026	Deadline to Receive Early Registration Rate
September 2, 2026	Deadline to Receive Standard Registration Rate
September 29 - October 2, 2026	SNL 2026 Annual Meeting, Geneva, Switzerland

SNL Account Login

News

2026 Membership is Open - Renew Now!

Meeting Registration is Open.

Symposium Submissions are Closed.

Abstract Submissions are Closed.

Board of Directors Election is Closed.

See Dates & Deadlines for other important dates.

News

2026 Membership is Open - Renew Now!

Meeting Registration is Open.

Symposium Submissions are Closed.

Abstract Submissions are Closed.

Board of Directors Election is Closed.

See Dates & Deadlines for other important dates.

Panel Session

The neural architecture for language and other cognitive domains: an evolutionary perspective

Thursday, October 1, 2026, 9:00 – 10:45 am, Amphitheater D

An evolutionary perspective on language invites us to consider the cognitive architecture that permits the emergence of a language faculty, and how this emergent faculty is embedded within and interacts with its ancestral architecture. The symposium topic is inspired by the LoC's involvement in the Swiss-wide National Centre for Competence in Research Evolving Language, an interdisciplinary consortium dedicated to the past, present and future of language.

This moderated panel discussion is conceived as a platform to give space for a creative and inspiring interaction between diverse lines of research that examine the neural bases of language and communication through the lenses of non-linguistic cognitive systems (Prof. Sonja Kotz), comparative neuroanatomy (Dr. Yannick Becker) and comparative cognition (Prof. Richard Hahnloser). The moderator, Dr. Paul Middlebrooks, is an expert facilitator of scientific communication who will guide a dynamic and open-minded exchange seeking to tease out novel, under-represented and under-explored strands in the study of the neural bases of language.

Panelists

Yannick Becker

Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences
Yannick Becker is a post-doctoral researcher in the Neurobiosocial Group and Lead of the Evolution sub-group at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.

Richard Hahnloser

Institute of Neuroinformatics, ETH-Zurich
Richard Hahnloser is Full Professor at the Institute of Neuroinformatics, ETH-Zurich, Switzerland, where he heads the Birdsong and Natural Language Group.

Sonja Kotz

Maastricht University
Sonja Kotz is Chair of Neuropsychology and Translational Cognitive Neuroscience at the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology at Maastricht University, the Netherlands.

Paul Middlebrooks

Carnegie Mellon University
Paul Middlebrooks is Special Faculty Research Associate at the Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, USA. He produces Brain Inspired "a podcast where neuroscience and AI converge".

Sponsored by the NCCR Evolving Language.(opens in new tab)

SNL Account Login

News

2026 Membership is Open - Renew Now!

Meeting Registration is Open.

Symposium Submissions are Closed.

Abstract Submissions are Closed.

Board of Directors Election is Closed.

See Dates & Deadlines for other important dates.