Alpha Suppression Is Associated with the Tip-of-the-Tongue (TOT) State Whereas Alpha Expression Is Associated with Knowing That One Does Not Know
The tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) state is a spontaneously occurring metacognitive state that indicates that the answer to a query is almost, but not quite, at hand, i.e., that resolution is imminent. Since the time of William James, a distinctive feeling of nagging frustration has been observed to be ass...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Intelligence |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/10/4/121 |
| _version_ | 1797456918186295296 |
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| author | Edmund Qian-Long Shen David Friedman Paul Alexander Bloom Janet Metcalfe |
| author_facet | Edmund Qian-Long Shen David Friedman Paul Alexander Bloom Janet Metcalfe |
| author_sort | Edmund Qian-Long Shen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) state is a spontaneously occurring metacognitive state that indicates that the answer to a query is almost, but not quite, at hand, i.e., that resolution is imminent. Since the time of William James, a distinctive feeling of nagging frustration has been observed to be associated with TOT states. On a more positive note, TOT states are also associated with intense goal-directed curiosity and with a strong desire to know that translates into successful mental action. The present study showed that prior to the presentation of resolving feedback to verbal queries—if the individual was in a TOT state—alpha suppression was in evidence in the EEG. This alpha suppression appears to be a marker of a spontaneously occurring, conscious, and highly motivating goal-directed internal metacognitive state. At the same time, alpha expression in the same time period was associated with the feeling of not knowing, indicating a more discursive state. Both alpha and alpha suppression were observed broadly across centro-parietal scalp electrodes and disappeared immediately upon presentation of the resolving feedback. Analyses indicated that the occurrence of alpha suppression was associated with participants’ verbal affirmations of being in a TOT state, which is also related to subsequent expression of a late positivity when feedback is provided, and to enhanced memory. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:14:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4003d47d1171471089f01a74b0ef7ff5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-3200 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:14:45Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Intelligence |
| spelling | doaj.art-4003d47d1171471089f01a74b0ef7ff52023-11-24T15:53:11ZengMDPI AGJournal of Intelligence2079-32002022-12-0110412110.3390/jintelligence10040121Alpha Suppression Is Associated with the Tip-of-the-Tongue (TOT) State Whereas Alpha Expression Is Associated with Knowing That One Does Not KnowEdmund Qian-Long Shen0David Friedman1Paul Alexander Bloom2Janet Metcalfe3Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USADepartment of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USADepartment of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USADepartment of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USAThe tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) state is a spontaneously occurring metacognitive state that indicates that the answer to a query is almost, but not quite, at hand, i.e., that resolution is imminent. Since the time of William James, a distinctive feeling of nagging frustration has been observed to be associated with TOT states. On a more positive note, TOT states are also associated with intense goal-directed curiosity and with a strong desire to know that translates into successful mental action. The present study showed that prior to the presentation of resolving feedback to verbal queries—if the individual was in a TOT state—alpha suppression was in evidence in the EEG. This alpha suppression appears to be a marker of a spontaneously occurring, conscious, and highly motivating goal-directed internal metacognitive state. At the same time, alpha expression in the same time period was associated with the feeling of not knowing, indicating a more discursive state. Both alpha and alpha suppression were observed broadly across centro-parietal scalp electrodes and disappeared immediately upon presentation of the resolving feedback. Analyses indicated that the occurrence of alpha suppression was associated with participants’ verbal affirmations of being in a TOT state, which is also related to subsequent expression of a late positivity when feedback is provided, and to enhanced memory.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/10/4/121tip-of-the-tongue (TOT)curiosityalphaalpha suppressionspectral analysisERP |
| spellingShingle | Edmund Qian-Long Shen David Friedman Paul Alexander Bloom Janet Metcalfe Alpha Suppression Is Associated with the Tip-of-the-Tongue (TOT) State Whereas Alpha Expression Is Associated with Knowing That One Does Not Know Journal of Intelligence tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) curiosity alpha alpha suppression spectral analysis ERP |
| title | Alpha Suppression Is Associated with the Tip-of-the-Tongue (TOT) State Whereas Alpha Expression Is Associated with Knowing That One Does Not Know |
| title_full | Alpha Suppression Is Associated with the Tip-of-the-Tongue (TOT) State Whereas Alpha Expression Is Associated with Knowing That One Does Not Know |
| title_fullStr | Alpha Suppression Is Associated with the Tip-of-the-Tongue (TOT) State Whereas Alpha Expression Is Associated with Knowing That One Does Not Know |
| title_full_unstemmed | Alpha Suppression Is Associated with the Tip-of-the-Tongue (TOT) State Whereas Alpha Expression Is Associated with Knowing That One Does Not Know |
| title_short | Alpha Suppression Is Associated with the Tip-of-the-Tongue (TOT) State Whereas Alpha Expression Is Associated with Knowing That One Does Not Know |
| title_sort | alpha suppression is associated with the tip of the tongue tot state whereas alpha expression is associated with knowing that one does not know |
| topic | tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) curiosity alpha alpha suppression spectral analysis ERP |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/10/4/121 |
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