Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionFactsExperienceCausesMemory and LearningHow to Respond

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Have you ever been asked a question that youknowthe answer to, but found yourself struggling to think of the correct word? “Oh, I know this,” you might say. “It starts with a B.“This is a sensation that many are familiar with, particularly inolder age.It’s called the “tip-of-the-tongue” phenomenon, which is also known as lethologica. Learn more about this state, including what causes it and what to do when it occurs.What Is the Tip-of-the-Tongue Phenomenon?The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon or lethologica is “the inability to retrieve a specific word as a response to a visual, auditory, or tactile presentation.“Even though the person will know the word they’re trying to think of, it remains elusive and just outside of mental reach.Language is an incredibly complex process. Most of the time, this process takes place so effortlessly that we barely give it a second thought. We think of something, the brain assigns words to represent these abstract ideas, and we speak what is on our minds. But because this process is so complex, all kinds of things can go wrong, including the tip-of-the-tongue moments.Facts About Tip-of-the-Tongue PhenomenonThis phenomenon can be frustrating to experience. That said, one of its upsides is that it allows researchers to analyze differentaspects of memory. Some interesting things that researchers have discovered about lethologica include:The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon is universal.People from all over the world report experiencing moments where certain words seem momentarily inaccessible.These moments increase with age.While young adults might experience tip-of-the-tongue moments once a week, older adults generally experience these incidences almost daily.People often remember partial bits of information.For example, they may remember the letter the word they are searching for begins with or the number of syllables the word contains.Proper nouns seem to present the most difficulty. When it comes to which words seem to escape memory most, proper nouns take the top slot.This includes remembering a person’s name or the name of a specific place or thing.How a Tip-of-the-Tongue State FeelsWhen a tip-of-the-tongue moment occurs, a person might feel that the information is there just outside of their grasp. The person knows that they know the word, but it seems temporarily locked behind some sort of mental brick wall.When something finally does trigger theretrieval of the word, or when someone else offers up the missing information, the relief of those feelings of frustration is palpable.Causes of the Tip-of-the-Tongue PhenomenonWhy does lethologica or the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon occur? Although the exact processes are not entirely clear, a number of factors appear to play a role.For example, tip-of-the-tongue events are more likely to happenwhen people are tired. Other features of memory, such as how well the information was encoded and the presence of any interfering memories, can also have an influence.Metacognitive explanations for the phenomenon suggest that tip-of-the-tongue states serve as a sort of alarm. Like a warning signal in a car, they can alert us to a potential problem that needs to be addressed.According to such explanations, tip-of-the-tongue moments are not in and of themselves a problem. Rather, they serve to alert us that there is something going on with the retrieval system and allow us to correct the issue.As an example, having tip-of-the-tongue experiences repeatedly before an important exam or presentation suggests a need to study the information more in order to better cement it into memory.Tip-of-the-Tongue Phenomenon: Memory and LearningTip-of-the-tongue states may play an adaptive role in the memory andlearning process. However, there are opposing theories as to whether they are positive or negative experiences related to our ability to recall specific words.Some researchers view tip-of-the-tongue moments as a “unique form of memory success.“They are clues to the information we seek and a sign that some sort of memory exists as opposed to the memory not being there at all.Others suggest that this phenomenon signals adecline in memory retrieval. According to one study, experiencing tip-of-the-tongue states may even help predict diseases causing cognitive impairment, including dementia.Still other researchers say that these moments are less about memory and more about the learning process. In a 2015 study published in the journalCognition, researchers noted that the recurrence of the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon is possibly a result of implicit learning, which involves the learning of complex information in incidental ways without any awareness that it has been learned.How to Respond to Tip-of-the-Tongue MomentsIt can be frustrating to be unable to think of a specific word, especially when it’s a word that is known all too well. What’s the best way to respond to lethologica or tip-of-the-tongue states?The most common resolution for the failure to recall a specific word is to not think about it, which is often when the word suddenly “pops up” out of nowhere.This is referred to as a spontaneous resolution or one in which the state resolves itself.If tip-of-the-tongue moments happen frequently or are bothersome, it’s important to talk to a care provider such as a physician or mental health professional. They can do testing to determinewhether a cognitive issue may existor if it’s just a matter of having one of these common incidences.

Have you ever been asked a question that youknowthe answer to, but found yourself struggling to think of the correct word? “Oh, I know this,” you might say. “It starts with a B.”

This is a sensation that many are familiar with, particularly inolder age.It’s called the “tip-of-the-tongue” phenomenon, which is also known as lethologica. Learn more about this state, including what causes it and what to do when it occurs.

What Is the Tip-of-the-Tongue Phenomenon?

The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon or lethologica is “the inability to retrieve a specific word as a response to a visual, auditory, or tactile presentation.“Even though the person will know the word they’re trying to think of, it remains elusive and just outside of mental reach.

Language is an incredibly complex process. Most of the time, this process takes place so effortlessly that we barely give it a second thought. We think of something, the brain assigns words to represent these abstract ideas, and we speak what is on our minds. But because this process is so complex, all kinds of things can go wrong, including the tip-of-the-tongue moments.

Facts About Tip-of-the-Tongue Phenomenon

This phenomenon can be frustrating to experience. That said, one of its upsides is that it allows researchers to analyze differentaspects of memory. Some interesting things that researchers have discovered about lethologica include:

How a Tip-of-the-Tongue State Feels

When a tip-of-the-tongue moment occurs, a person might feel that the information is there just outside of their grasp. The person knows that they know the word, but it seems temporarily locked behind some sort of mental brick wall.

When something finally does trigger theretrieval of the word, or when someone else offers up the missing information, the relief of those feelings of frustration is palpable.

Causes of the Tip-of-the-Tongue Phenomenon

Why does lethologica or the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon occur? Although the exact processes are not entirely clear, a number of factors appear to play a role.

For example, tip-of-the-tongue events are more likely to happenwhen people are tired. Other features of memory, such as how well the information was encoded and the presence of any interfering memories, can also have an influence.

Metacognitive explanations for the phenomenon suggest that tip-of-the-tongue states serve as a sort of alarm. Like a warning signal in a car, they can alert us to a potential problem that needs to be addressed.

According to such explanations, tip-of-the-tongue moments are not in and of themselves a problem. Rather, they serve to alert us that there is something going on with the retrieval system and allow us to correct the issue.

As an example, having tip-of-the-tongue experiences repeatedly before an important exam or presentation suggests a need to study the information more in order to better cement it into memory.

Tip-of-the-Tongue Phenomenon: Memory and Learning

Tip-of-the-tongue states may play an adaptive role in the memory andlearning process. However, there are opposing theories as to whether they are positive or negative experiences related to our ability to recall specific words.

Some researchers view tip-of-the-tongue moments as a “unique form of memory success.“They are clues to the information we seek and a sign that some sort of memory exists as opposed to the memory not being there at all.

Others suggest that this phenomenon signals adecline in memory retrieval. According to one study, experiencing tip-of-the-tongue states may even help predict diseases causing cognitive impairment, including dementia.

Still other researchers say that these moments are less about memory and more about the learning process. In a 2015 study published in the journalCognition, researchers noted that the recurrence of the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon is possibly a result of implicit learning, which involves the learning of complex information in incidental ways without any awareness that it has been learned.

How to Respond to Tip-of-the-Tongue Moments

It can be frustrating to be unable to think of a specific word, especially when it’s a word that is known all too well. What’s the best way to respond to lethologica or tip-of-the-tongue states?

The most common resolution for the failure to recall a specific word is to not think about it, which is often when the word suddenly “pops up” out of nowhere.This is referred to as a spontaneous resolution or one in which the state resolves itself.

If tip-of-the-tongue moments happen frequently or are bothersome, it’s important to talk to a care provider such as a physician or mental health professional. They can do testing to determinewhether a cognitive issue may existor if it’s just a matter of having one of these common incidences.

7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Abrams L, Davis DK.The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon: Who, what, and why. InCognition, Language and Aging.Girija PC, Shahal NP, Narayanan N.Lethologica in aging: An analytical study.J Ind Acad Geriat. 2022;18(1):9-14. doi:10.4103/jiag.jiag_32_21Resnik K, Bradbury D, Barnes GR, Leff AP.Between thought and expression, a magnetoencephalography study of the “tip-of-the-tongue” phenomenon.J Cog Nuerosci. 2014;26(10):2210-2223. doi:10.1162/jocn_a_00611Ouyang M, Cai X, Zhang Q.Aging effects on phonological and semantic priming in the tip-of-the-tongue: Evidence from a two-step approach.Front Psychol. 2020;11:338. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00338Cleary AM, McNeely-White KL, Russell SA, Huebert AM, Hausman H.The tip-of-the-tongue state as a form of access to information: Use of the tip-of-the-tongue states for strategic adaptive test-taking.J Appl Res Mem Cogn. 2021;10(1):131-142. doi:10.1016/j.jarmac.2020.08.013Kim JW, Kim M, Yoon JH.The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon in older adults with subjective memory complaints.PLoS One. 2020;15(9):e0239327. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0239327D’Angelo MC, Humphreys KR.Tip-of-the-tongue states reoccur because of implicit learning, but resolving them helps.Cognition. 2015;142:166-190. doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2015.05.019

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Abrams L, Davis DK.The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon: Who, what, and why. InCognition, Language and Aging.Girija PC, Shahal NP, Narayanan N.Lethologica in aging: An analytical study.J Ind Acad Geriat. 2022;18(1):9-14. doi:10.4103/jiag.jiag_32_21Resnik K, Bradbury D, Barnes GR, Leff AP.Between thought and expression, a magnetoencephalography study of the “tip-of-the-tongue” phenomenon.J Cog Nuerosci. 2014;26(10):2210-2223. doi:10.1162/jocn_a_00611Ouyang M, Cai X, Zhang Q.Aging effects on phonological and semantic priming in the tip-of-the-tongue: Evidence from a two-step approach.Front Psychol. 2020;11:338. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00338Cleary AM, McNeely-White KL, Russell SA, Huebert AM, Hausman H.The tip-of-the-tongue state as a form of access to information: Use of the tip-of-the-tongue states for strategic adaptive test-taking.J Appl Res Mem Cogn. 2021;10(1):131-142. doi:10.1016/j.jarmac.2020.08.013Kim JW, Kim M, Yoon JH.The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon in older adults with subjective memory complaints.PLoS One. 2020;15(9):e0239327. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0239327D’Angelo MC, Humphreys KR.Tip-of-the-tongue states reoccur because of implicit learning, but resolving them helps.Cognition. 2015;142:166-190. doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2015.05.019

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Abrams L, Davis DK.The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon: Who, what, and why. InCognition, Language and Aging.Girija PC, Shahal NP, Narayanan N.Lethologica in aging: An analytical study.J Ind Acad Geriat. 2022;18(1):9-14. doi:10.4103/jiag.jiag_32_21Resnik K, Bradbury D, Barnes GR, Leff AP.Between thought and expression, a magnetoencephalography study of the “tip-of-the-tongue” phenomenon.J Cog Nuerosci. 2014;26(10):2210-2223. doi:10.1162/jocn_a_00611Ouyang M, Cai X, Zhang Q.Aging effects on phonological and semantic priming in the tip-of-the-tongue: Evidence from a two-step approach.Front Psychol. 2020;11:338. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00338Cleary AM, McNeely-White KL, Russell SA, Huebert AM, Hausman H.The tip-of-the-tongue state as a form of access to information: Use of the tip-of-the-tongue states for strategic adaptive test-taking.J Appl Res Mem Cogn. 2021;10(1):131-142. doi:10.1016/j.jarmac.2020.08.013Kim JW, Kim M, Yoon JH.The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon in older adults with subjective memory complaints.PLoS One. 2020;15(9):e0239327. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0239327D’Angelo MC, Humphreys KR.Tip-of-the-tongue states reoccur because of implicit learning, but resolving them helps.Cognition. 2015;142:166-190. doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2015.05.019

Abrams L, Davis DK.The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon: Who, what, and why. InCognition, Language and Aging.

Girija PC, Shahal NP, Narayanan N.Lethologica in aging: An analytical study.J Ind Acad Geriat. 2022;18(1):9-14. doi:10.4103/jiag.jiag_32_21

Resnik K, Bradbury D, Barnes GR, Leff AP.Between thought and expression, a magnetoencephalography study of the “tip-of-the-tongue” phenomenon.J Cog Nuerosci. 2014;26(10):2210-2223. doi:10.1162/jocn_a_00611

Ouyang M, Cai X, Zhang Q.Aging effects on phonological and semantic priming in the tip-of-the-tongue: Evidence from a two-step approach.Front Psychol. 2020;11:338. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00338

Cleary AM, McNeely-White KL, Russell SA, Huebert AM, Hausman H.The tip-of-the-tongue state as a form of access to information: Use of the tip-of-the-tongue states for strategic adaptive test-taking.J Appl Res Mem Cogn. 2021;10(1):131-142. doi:10.1016/j.jarmac.2020.08.013

Kim JW, Kim M, Yoon JH.The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon in older adults with subjective memory complaints.PLoS One. 2020;15(9):e0239327. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0239327

D’Angelo MC, Humphreys KR.Tip-of-the-tongue states reoccur because of implicit learning, but resolving them helps.Cognition. 2015;142:166-190. doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2015.05.019

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