Something You Should Know

Why We Have Tip-of-the-Tongue Moments & How to Make Better Conversation

18 snips
Jul 28, 2025
Anne Cleary, a psychology professor at Colorado State University, dives into the intriguing phenomenon of 'tip-of-the-tongue' moments, unpacking the cognitive mysteries behind our inability to recall certain words. Alongside her, Jefferson Fisher, a lawyer and expert in verbal communication, shares practical strategies to enhance conversation skills. They discuss age’s impact on memory retrieval, the importance of context, and tips for effective dialogue, revealing how empathy and understanding can improve our everyday interactions.
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INSIGHT

Nuts Increase Longevity

  • Eating just 15 grams of nuts daily reduces mortality from major diseases significantly.
  • Peanut butter does not provide these mortality benefits unlike whole nuts and peanuts.
INSIGHT

Understanding Tip-of-the-Tongue

  • Tip-of-the-tongue moments are when you know a word but can’t recall it immediately.
  • This phenomenon feels different from simply forgetting or not knowing something.
INSIGHT

Names Trigger Tip-of-the-Tongue

  • Tip-of-the-tongue states occur mostly with low-frequency words and proper names.
  • Proper names are the most common words people struggle to retrieve during these moments.
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