Tip of the Tongue Conundrum

If a word eludes you, should you think hard or take a break?

Studies show most of us have one of these memory hiccups about once a week. The common solution: Keep thinking. Hyun Choi, a researcher in psychology at Texas A&M, says the hard work can pay off.

However, too much concentration can also hinder progress. That's because the tip-of-the-tongue state tends to occur when a similar-sounding, though incorrect, word is blocking the correct answer. As long as you obsess, this wrong word remains lodged in your brain, keeping the answer at bay, Choi says.
The next time a word is just out of reach, and the first few attempts don't pan out, distract yourself with an unrelated activity for about 15 minutes, Choi recommends. The brain-break may allow your mind to let go of the wrong answer and grab the right one.