REPEATED TIP-OF-THE-TONGUE STATES: A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ERROR REPETITION EFFECT

Abstract

There are some disagreements surrounding what constitutes a tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) state. The most widely accepted hypothesis to account for TOT states is the Transmission Deficit Hypothesis, which suggests TOT states are the result of a phonological access failure (Burke, Mackay, Worthley, & Wade, 1991). The TOT state is largely hypothesized to be a general subthreshold state, which suggests that the TOT state does not have a specific underlying mechanism. A relatively new line of inquiry involves that of repeated TOT states. As a theoretical extension to the phonological failure account of TOT states, Warriner and Humphreys (2008) found that TOT states repeat at a rate greater than would be predicted by chance, which has been termed the error repetition effect. They argue that the mechanism underlying the error repetition effect is a Hebbian-like error learning mechanism, suggesting that the TOT state is not a general state, but rather a specific state. D’Angelo & Humphreys (2015) did an extensive study that provided evidence for the validity of the error repetition effect. This dissertation explores additional features of the TOT state that had not been previously tested. The first study explored what is being learned during a TOT state. Specific phonological information was found to repeat along with repeated TOT states, supporting the phonological failure hypothesis. Second, this dissertation includes the first study to determine if older adults experience the error repetition effect using Warriner and Humphreys’ (2008) methodology. The evidence suggests that repeated TOT states are a part of normal aging rather than pathological cognitive dysfunction. Third, metacognition researchers argue that the TOT state is a subjective experience caused by a mechanism that assesses the likelihood of recall from memory. The third study demonstrates evidence contrary to the metacognitive account, which further supports the phonological failure account of TOT states.