Comments on: On the Tip-of-the-Tongue: Blocked Memories

By: Bartola

Bartola — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:36:00 +0000

I found it interesting that people associate a word with food. I heard that somewhere long ago. However, In agreeing with the other commentators. The test should be widened to others.

also, I can be open minded to say, that different things help others remember. When I forget the name of something or want to remember, I tell myself to slow down and and not force it. I begin to look back at details of the picture in my memory and go from there.

By: Mary

Mary — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:27:00 +0000

I have two methods of remembering when I get TOT - if it's a name, go through the alphabet and sound out each letter in your head, and quite often you'll get to the letter that the name starts with and it will pop into your head.

The other method, which works regardless of whether it's a name or anything else, is to absolutely force yourself to stop thinking about it completely. This is difficult but if you can master it, the word will pop back into your head moments later.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:57:00 +0000

Isn't the slightly more scientific word for this "lethologica"?

By: Count Ludwig

Count Ludwig — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:46:00 +0000

With associative memory an artificial neural network receives a small part of a memory as input, it partially completes it as output and feeds this back as input again. It completes this a bit more, and feeds it back again, and again until the memory is complete. The final steps are usually very quick - almost like an avalanche.

The implication is that you should think of other facts about the forgotten actor and feed them back - and use these to remember more facts until a complete picture emerges. Often it finally comes very suddenly.

By: Steve H

Steve H — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 03:53:00 +0000

I agree with the previous commenter about how six people might not be a large enough data base to found conclusions on, but the author of this article did say that it is a very rare condition to be able to associate words with tastes. I thought this was a very fascinating and enlightening article, though I also agree that more could be expanded about how to remember the word that is on the "TOT." I had no idea that the condition was actually named and had research done on it, because throughout my life, I have taken it for granted as an everyday part of life. I think some weeks I am more prone to this phenomena, as I participate in the school's trivia team, it provides ample opportunity for these occurrences. I think that this would be an interesting topic to do more research on.

By: JunosL

JunosL — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 21:30:00 +0000

Do you consider six people a big enough of a sample to draw conclusions from it? You also give one explanation for remembering the word, but then expose it as unplausible yourself. Are there any other (maybe more plausible) cases of explanation?