when our brain is desperately trying to remember something (especially “tip of the tongue” memories), what is it actually doing? Why can’t it just remember it?

Question

when our brain is desperately trying to remember something (especially “tip of the tongue” memories), what is it actually doing? Why can’t it just remember it?

In: Biology

Answer 1

That would just be my guess, but i think it tries to find a neural pathway to that information through association to other memories. Like when you see an actor in a movie but can’t remember their name, if instead of trying to remember their name directly you instead try to remember in which other movies you saw them, it might help you remember their name instantly this way.