An event‐related potentials study of face identification and naming: The tip‐of‐the‐tongue state

Abstract

With the aim of identifying event-related potential (ERP) correlates of the tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) state, we employed a task involving identification and naming of the faces of famous people with three response categories: KNOW (correct naming), DON'T KNOW (name not known), and TOT. Before 450 ms, no differences are observed between TOT and KNOW conditions in ERPs related to face processing and recognition. The smaller mean amplitude in TOT than in KNOW responses over the 550-750-ms interval and the N-TOT difference wave are correlates of the onset of the TOT state, probably reflecting a division of processing resources and low activation of the lexical-phonological route. The smaller amplitude of a late negative wave (between 1350 and 1550 ms) in TOT than in DON'T KNOW responses, and the P-TOT difference wave, seem to indicate that an important amount of processing resources is engaged in resolving the TOT.

Movement related cortical potentials in a face naming task: Influence of the tip-of-the-tongue state

“…As a result, the ranking of LNW amplitudes can be attributed to the amount of processing resources released after closure of the stimulus epoch: complete closure and release of processing resources in DON'T KNOW, incomplete closure in KNOW, because a subset of processing resources are probably engaged in name retrieval and in verification of whether the name retrieved corresponds to the face presented, and nonclosure in TOT, due to the blockage situation. However, as the authors (Díaz et al, 2007) indicated, it was possible that these differences were also modulated by the brain activity associated with the preparation and execution of the motor responses required in the task. The analysis of MRCP may help to corroborate this hypothesis.…”

“…From initial sample of 20 university students who participated in the study of Díaz et al (2007), valid MRCP averaged waveforms were obtained from 14 participants (6 men and 8 women; age range 19-24 years). All were right-handed, with normal or corrected vision, and were healthy, with no history of neurological or psychiatric disorders and had not received any medical treatment in the 4 weeks prior to the experiment.…”

“…In the latter study of Díaz et al (2007), participants were shown photographs of the faces of well-known people and were required to respond by pressing one of two keys on a keyboard, depending on whether they knew or did not know the name of the person, and immediately after they had to give one of three verbal responses corresponding to the following response categories: 1) KNOW: when they knew the name and stated it correctly; 2) DON'T KNOW: they did not know the name and said "Don't know", or 3) TOT: they knew the name but could not retrieve it and said "Can't remember". The ERPs time-locked to presentation of the stimulus were analyzed in a 2 second interval.…”

“…However, the ERP correlates of the TOT state have been evaluated in only one previous study, in a task involving the naming of faces of famous people (Díaz et al, 2007).…”

“…The aim of the present study was therefore characterize and evaluate the manual and speech MRCPs in the same participants as in the study of Díaz et al (2007), with the following specific objectives:…”