Why do we sometimes have trouble remembering things, but something like a picture, sound, or a thought can instantly remind us?

Question

Like when you’re speaking with someone and lose your train of thought, and you’re like “damn what was i just gonna say” then you back track a little bit and hear or seee something that relates to what you were saying and it instantly brings back the memory you were having trouble retrieving.

In: Biology

Answer 1

Cause and effect. That picture, sound or initial thought was the original trigger for the thing you cannot remember. Revisiting the original trigger once more sparks the thought that you could not remember.