The science behind brain farts

It happens to you all the time. You're mid-sentence during a meeting with your boss, working on The New York Times' crossword puzzle, typing up an essay for grad school, or even talking to your mom on the phone — and the next word you're looking for just doesn't ... come.

You know the word. You've used it before. Maybe you remember the letter it starts with or the syllabic rhythm when it leaves your mouth

There's a scientific term for this totally common phenomenon, which we like to call a "brain fart." You're experiencing tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) syndrome, from the phrase "it's on the tip of my tongue." And while there's no universally accepted cause, scientific theories abound. Read more...

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