Scientists have figured out what happens to the brain when a word is ”on the tip of the tongue“

Every one of us has experienced it: you’re in the middle of a conversation, looking for a word, a name or a title, and…. nothing. You know you know it — you can almost feel it, but it just doesn’t come. This phenomenon, known as “on the tip of the tongue,” is both delightful and frustrating. But what exactly is going on in the brain during these moments? Scientists have investigated this question and have uncovered some intriguing facts.

When a word is “on the tip of the tongue,” several areas of the brain go into motion at once, trying to find the missing term. Imagine a group of people frantically searching in a library for a particular book. In the same way, the brain mobilizes certain areas to help in this search. Three areas play a key role: the anterior cingulate cortex, the prefrontal cortex, and the insular cortex.

The anterior cingulate cortex and prefrontal cortex are part of the network responsible for cognitive control and have complementary functions when a word becomes elusive. The anterior cingulate cortex acts as a controller, signaling the presence of conflict: “I know this word, but I can’t remember it!”. Meanwhile, the prefrontal cortex evaluates and verifies the information that comes up during the search, ensuring that what you find matches what you are looking for. A deeper and less visible area of the brain, the insular area, is involved in phonetic searching, helping to find the sounds that make up words.

Using tools such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the researchers noticed how these areas of the brain work together at times like these. It seems as if these areas are collaborating like colleagues tackling a complex task, joining forces to find the missing word.

Interestingly, this unpleasant experience becomes more frequent as we age. Research shows that the areas of the brain involved in word search, particularly the anterior cingulate cortex and insular area, atrophy over time. This means they lose efficiency, just as a once—perfect library becomes disorganized, with misplaced books and poorly labeled shelves. As a result, finding “the book” (in this case, the word) becomes more difficult.

For example, studies have shown that in older adults, the insular area is less active during word search attempts. This reduced activity impairs the ability to gather the phonological elements of words, making moments of “talking it through” more common. The more the insular area suffers with age, the more difficult it is to recall familiar words.

Although this phenomenon becomes more frequent with age, the “word on the tip of the tongue” is a perfectly normal phenomenon. It emphasizes the complexity of the brain, showing that even seemingly simple tasks like word retrieval depend on the coordinated actions of many areas.

Moreover, there are ways to mitigate the effects of aging on word retrieval. One strategy involves building what scientists call a cognitive reserve — a protective factor strengthened by intellectual, physical and social activity. This reserve helps optimize brain health and cognitive aging by making word retrieval easier even as we age.

The next time a word is on the tip of your tongue, remember that your brain is working hard to retrieve it. At first, partial information may come up — such as certain sounds or related words — which will encourage you to keep searching. If the word doesn’t come to you right away, take a break and try again later with a clear mind. Moments like this are a testament to the complexity and amazing efficiency of the brain.