We have experienced it all: you are in the middle of a conversation, look for a word, a name or a title and … nothing. You know you know, you can almost hear it, but it will simply not arrive. This phenomenon, known how to have a Word “On the tip of the language”is at the same time fascinating and frustrating. But what exactly happens in the brain in these moments? Scientists explored this question, discovering some intriguing intuitions.
When a word is “on the tip of the language”, different regions of the brain They come into action, working to identify the missing term. Imagine a group of people who frantically look for a specific book in a library. Likewise, the brain mobilizes specific areas to assist in this research. Three regions, in particular, play a key role: the Front trap cortex, the prefrontal cortex and the insula.
There Front trap cortex and the prefrontal cortex They are part of a network responsible for cognitive control and perform complementary roles when a word is elusive. The anterior tracked cortex acts as a supervisor, reporting that there is a conflict.
In the meantime, the prefrontal cortex evaluates and verifies the information that emerges during research, making sure that what is recovered corresponds to what you are looking for. THE’insulaa region of the deeper and less visible brain contributes to phonological recovery, helping to access the sounds that make up the words.
The study
Using tools such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI), researchers have observed how these areas of brain they work together during these moments. It is as if these regions collaborated as colleagues who face a difficult problem, combining their efforts to find the missing word.
It is interesting to note that this frustrating experience becomes more frequent with advancing age. Studies show that The parts of the brain involved in the recovery of words, in particular the anterior tracked cortex and the insula, tend to atrophy over time. This means that they lose efficiency, like a library, an uncontaminated time, which becomes disorganized, with out of place books and poorly labeled shelves. As a result, recovering a “book” or, in this case, a word becomes more demanding.
For example, research has shown that In the elderly the insula is less active during the attempts to recover words. This reduced activity compromises the ability to assemble the phonological elements of words, making the moments “on the tip of the language” more common. The more the insula becomes damaged with age, the more difficult it is to recover words that otherwise would be familiar.
Despite its greatest frequency with aging, the phenomenon of the “tip of the language” is completely normal. It highlights the complexity of the brain, showing that even apparently simple tasks – how to find a word – are based on the coordinated action of many regions.
In addition, there are ways to mitigate the effects of aging on the recovery of words. A strategy provides for the construction of what scientists call cognitive reservea protective factor strengthened by intellectual, physical and social activities. This reserve helps to optimize brain health and cognitive aging, making the search for words easier even when we age.
The next time you have a word on the tip of the language, remember that your brain is working to try to recover it. Partial information, like certain sounds or related words, could emerge first, encouraging you to continue the research. If the word does not come immediately, take a break and try again later with your lucid mind. These moments are a testimony of the complexity and considerable efficiency of the brain.
Source: The Conversation
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