10.  Why do I sometimes have something "on the tip of my tongue?"

One of the reasons that the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon is probably so interesting is that it is something that everyone has experienced at one time or another. We have all encountered that occasion in which we know what we are trying to say, but for some reason, we are unable to come up with the words or thoughts that we are trying to express. This is the premise behind the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon.

Perhaps more interesting, though, than the fact that this phenomenon does occur is why this phenomenon happens. However, although the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon has been thoroughly researched, it appears as if there is not a specific answer as to why it occurs. Even though it does not seem as if one has determined an underlying reason behind this phenomenon, the previous and extensive research done on this subject has allowed psychologists to make some implications about memory, more specifically about the storage of memories (Higbee, 1988).

Most of the conclusions that have resulted from research done on tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon have implied some understanding of memory storage and recall. Some of these implications are as follows. First, memory is a continuum; there are various degrees to it. In other words, people remember different amounts of instances. Some may remember more than others do. Second, for the most part, memory is generative. People do not usually remember exact replicas of the information that they have learned. Instead, most memories have to be reconstructed before they can be recalled and retrieved. Next, memory is capable of storing words in various terms. For example, words may be stored visually, semantically, or on auditory terms. Finally, there is a distinction between the availability and the accessibility of information that has been stored in memory. Memories are available when one is able to produce what s/he is actually attempting to recall. However, memories also have to be accessed; one has to be able to retrieve the information that has been stored in long-term memory (Higbee, 1988).

All of this information that has been discovered about memory has resulted from research done on the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon. Although there has not been a specific explanation offered as to why tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon occurs, many other revelations about memory have been discovered as a result of studying it. Therefore, researchers have found that examining this phenomenon has been beneficial in learning much about several areas in memory.
 

Higbee, K.L. Your Memory: How It Works and How to Improve It. Prentice Hall Press: New York, 1988.
 
 

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