"Do you remember that blonde girl from high school? She was on the cheer team, had brown eyes, and her name started with a 'K.' Was it Katie? Kaley? Kameron? I can't quite put my finger on the name, but I would recognize it if told.” Ever had a moment like this? This is known as the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon.
What is the Tip of Tongue Phenomenon?
The tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) phenomenon is a state in which speakers are unable to retrieve the phonology of their thoughts. They recognize several connections related to the word they are thinking of and can even picture the word in some cases, but are unable to retrieve the linguistic form of it. They could remember the syllables or the initial letters of the word but are unable to grasp the word fully. Another important thing to note is that if a person is given a wrong word, not the one they were thinking of, they are able to negate it. Vice versa, if they are given the correct word, they can recognize it.
Do Tip-of-the-Tongue (TOT) states increase as one gets older?
While TOT occurrences are observed in both men and women of all ages (children haven't been studied), including young adults, middle-aged individuals, and the elderly, the frequency of TOT states tends to be higher in older adults. According to Burke et al. (2004), this increased frequency in older adults is not solely due to their expanded knowledge or a larger pool of accessible words. Instead, it is attributed to age-related factors that create challenges in recalling words. These issues (which will be discussed in detail later) contribute to a widening gap between knowing the word as the older adults sometimes are unable to remember even the initial letter or number of syllables in the word.
Brains Working behind the Phenomenon of Tip of Tongue
To understand the Tip-of-the-Tongue phenomenon, we first need to comprehend the following:
Semantic Memory: This is part of the long-term memory system that consists of knowledge, such as words and their definitions, and symbols. It is essentially a compilation of facts acquired over time that helps individuals communicate. Semantic memory is often associated with categorization, allowing us to categorize similar words, such as those with the same number of syllables or the same first initial. For example, in the beginning, we mentioned words like Katie, Kameron, and Kaley, all with the same number of syllables and the same first initial, being categorized together.
Lexicon: The language of an individual speaker or a group of speakers; the mental language that an individual encompasses.
Lexical Retrieval: Selecting a word that best fits the semantic information that one aims to convey from their lexicon.
Phonological Information: Conveying information through sound by using linguistic words.
Now that we understand the prerequisite terms, let's compile them together. Firstly, a person’s semantic memory is activated when they think of a concept. This allows them to have access to similar words to the one they are thinking of. This then leads to lexical retrieval, where the person selects a word from their lexicon and converts it into phonological information, or a word that accurately reflects the concept they are trying to express. This is how it is supposed to ideally go; however, there is a blockage in times of the tip-of-the-tongue state. This blockage occurs in phonological retrieval when you can’t retrieve the sound of the word. Thus, it feels like it's on the tip of your tongue, as you have made it past both semantic and lexical activation, and it feels as if you almost have it.
According to Shafto et al 2007, old age people have more deficiencies in phonological retrieval which accounts for their increase in tip of tongue states compared with other ages.
References
Aabedi, A.A., Kakaizada, S., Young, J.S. et al. Convergence of heteromodal lexical retrieval in the lateral prefrontal cortex. Sci Rep 11, 6305 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85802-5
Cross ES, Burke DM. Do alternative names block young and older adults’ retrieval of proper names? Brain and Language. 2004;89:174–181
Merriam-Webster. "Lexicon." Merriam-Webster.com, Merriam-Webster, n.d. Accessed 1 Jan. 2024. URL: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lexicon
Schmank, Christopher J. Tip-of-the-Tongue Phenomena Across the Adult Lifespan: The Role of Concurrent Stress, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, United States -- Colorado, 2016. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/tip-tongue-phenomena-across-adult-lifespan-role/docview/1850514209/se-2.
"Semantic Memory." The Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology, edited by Jacqueline L. Longe, 4th ed., vol. 2, Gale, 2022, pp. 1114-1115. Gale Health and Wellness, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX8273700727/HWRC?u=fall83743&sid=bookmark-HWRC&xid=6ca294db. Accessed 1 Jan. 2024.
Shafto MA, Burke DM, Stamatakis EA, Tam PP, Tyler LK. On the tip-of-the-tongue: neural correlates of increased word-finding failures in normal aging. J Cogn Neurosci. 2007 Dec;19(12):2060-70. doi: 10.1162/jocn.2007.19.12.2060. PMID: 17892392; PMCID: PMC2373253.
Taylor, Jennifer K., and Donald G. MacKay. “Tip-of-the-Tongue Phenomena: Gold Mine or Can of Worms?” The American Journal of Psychology, vol. 116, no. 2, 2003, pp. 291–98. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1423582. Accessed 1 Jan. 2024.
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