Chapter 9 - Toward an Understanding of the Neural Basis of the Tip-of-the-Tongue Experience

Summary

Although the neural basis of TOT states is not yet fully understood, we do know that (1) TOTs may involve competition among candidate word representations and the involvement of the anterior cingulate cortex in conflict detection; (2) TOTs may involve recruitment of the prefrontal cortex, possibly to exert top-down control over memory-retrieval efforts such as by priming situationally relevant memory representations or otherwise initiating goal-oriented behavior that is aimed at resolving the TOT state; (3) left hemisphere temporal regions known to be involved in language are likely involved, both in the stalling of retrieval mechanisms that is taking place to prevent successful retrieval of the target word, and also possibly in where the presumed competition among candidate word representations is taking place; and (4) future research is clearly needed in order to determine the extent to which people undergoing left hemisphere sourced anomia experience increases in subjective sensations of TOT states compared to other populations and how separable these TOT states may be from access to partial target attributes.