Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon occurs when someone cannot recall a specific word or term, but feels certain that they know it. The information feels just out of reach.
This branch of psychology studies mental processes such as 'attention, language use, memory, perception, problem solving, creativity and thinking.' The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon falls under this domain.