Please help me remember what this is called.

wasapi · 9th September 2010, 01:32 PM

I hate it when this happens. The word is right there, then . . . I got nothing, not even the first letter.

It is seeing faces or objects in clouds, steam on windows, ceiling tiles, ect.

Phil P. gave a great lecture at TAM one year on this topic, having taken a photo of what appeared on the glass shower door after he had just stepped out of a hot shower and the image looked remarkably like Randi.

Julia

Professor Yaffle · 9th September 2010, 01:34 PM

Pareidolia

Ririon · 9th September 2010, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by Professor Yaffle

Pareidolia

Yes, but it seems like to sell it, we need a spiffier name for it.

Stray Cat · 9th September 2010, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by wasapi

I hate it when this happens. The word is right there, then . . . I got nothing, not even the first letter.

It is seeing faces or objects in clouds, steam on windows, ceiling tiles, ect.

Paranoia?

Just kidding.

leon_heller · 9th September 2010, 02:21 PM

It sounds similar to "The Tip of the Tongue Phenomenon". It's been studied quite extensively in psychology. It can easily be induced by taking less common words from a word frequency list, giving someone the dictionary definition for the word, and asking which word it is.

wasapi · 9th September 2010, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by Professor Yaffle

Pareidolia

Thank you Proffessor, I'm just suprised because I was sure that as soon as I heard it I would have a "Duh, of course" moment. Didn't happen. Of course you are right, I guess it's just this age - er - memory thing that keeps happening.

Julia

Rat · 9th September 2010, 03:25 PM

I forgot this very word the other day. I had to Google 'face on Mars' to find it.

C_Felix · 10th September 2010, 04:38 AM

Brain fart.

Starthinker · 10th September 2010, 05:19 AM

Let's not forget apophenia which is seeing patterns where there are none. I run into this all the time when doing code breaking.

Spindrift · 10th September 2010, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by Rat

I forgot this very word the other day. I had to Google 'face on Mars' to find it.

<-------- This face?

Miss_Kitt · 10th September 2010, 10:08 PM

wasapi, I hear you.

Give to the March of Time! My doctor assures me that if this is only happening 8 or 10 times a day, and does not involve anything really important and common (like my husband's name) it's just normal aging.

I do find that often the 'missing' word is there if I try several times over several minutes to retrieve it. It just takes longer and is harder to get it out. Earlier today I couldn't for the life of me remember "Skagway" -- the town in Alaska where I discovered that being seasick for 24 hours is enough to make you literally physically kiss the ground when you disembark! I came up with "Sitka"--which was close, but wrong--and was actually looking up "S" town names online when it came back to me. Three minutes and thinking about other S towns (Salmon le Sac? Sassequahannah?) instead of my famous instant recall of a decade ago, but it's still in there.

Glad you found your missing word, and accept that it happens. Start learning ways to 'map back' to the lost data, it will only progress with time!

Sympathetically, Miss_Kitt

TubbaBlubba · 11th September 2010, 02:43 AM

Isn't it technically a minor seizure?

Soapy Sam · 11th September 2010, 05:39 AM

Originally Posted by Rat

I forgot this very word the other day. I had to Google 'face on Mars' to find it.

So did I.
What's the word for it when that happens?

arthwollipot · 11th September 2010, 06:17 AM

Deja vu?

wasapi · 11th September 2010, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by Miss_Kitt

wasapi, I hear you.

Give to the March of Time! My doctor assures me that if this is only happening 8 or 10 times a day, and does not involve anything really important and common (like my husband's name) it's just normal aging.

I do find that often the 'missing' word is there if I try several times over several minutes to retrieve it. It just takes longer and is harder to get it out. Earlier today I couldn't for the life of me remember "Skagway" -- the town in Alaska where I discovered that being seasick for 24 hours is enough to make you literally physically kiss the ground when you disembark! I came up with "Sitka"--which was close, but wrong--and was actually looking up "S" town names online when it came back to me. Three minutes and thinking about other S towns (Salmon le Sac? Sassequahannah?) instead of my famous instant recall of a decade ago, but it's still in there.

Glad you found your missing word, and accept that it happens. Start learning ways to 'map back' to the lost data, it will only progress with time!

Sympathetically, Miss_Kitt

How interesting Miss Kitt, however I was a bit horrified the other day to blank on a close friends name for a moment. OK, I lie, it wasn't a close friend, it was my son.

Usually I can do a quick and silent scan of the alphabet and the word pops out at me before I'm too embarrassed. But pareodolia just - wouldn't. So frustrating.

And also thanks for letting me know that I will only have negative association with Skagway from now on.

Julia

RSLancastr · 14th September 2010, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by wasapi

I hate it when this happens. The word is right there, then . . . I got nothing, not even the first letter.

It is called anomia, or nominal aphasia^WP. I had a couple of frustrating bouts of it after my stroke. I greatly amused one doctor by telling him that I could not remember the word for it.

Quote:

It is seeing faces or objects in clouds, steam on windows, ceiling tiles, ect.

Oh, that. That is pareidolia.

Quote:

Phil P. gave a great lecture at TAM one year on this topic, having taken a photo of what appeared on the glass shower door after he had just stepped out of a hot shower and the image looked remarkably like Randi.

Julia

what a remarkable coincidence! I too see an image in my bathroom that looks a lot like Randi.

In the mirror.

And it seems to look a little more like him all the time...

marplots · 15th September 2010, 05:40 AM

So how come with anomia, we cannot recall the word, but we know that some other word isn't it?

The phenomena is almost like we have a hole that only the correct answer will fit. And when we 'get it', we know.

So what's going on in my brain with the 'tip of the tongue' phenomena? If I truly didn't know the word, you could suggest any nonsense word and I would have no grounds to dispute it. But I absolutely know when an answer is wrong.

Wowbagger · 15th September 2010, 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by marplots

So what's going on in my brain with the 'tip of the tongue' phenomena? If I truly didn't know the word, you could suggest any nonsense word and I would have no grounds to dispute it. But I absolutely know when an answer is wrong.

It helps to understand two things:

1. Memory is NOT so much a storage/recall system. It is a destruction/reconstruction system. Your memory works by reconstructing "facts" that "sound good" in the current context of recall. Much of it is based on what tattered remains of details are stored in memory, but you might be surprised at just how much of it is made up on the spot. Much of it comes from loose associations with other memories.

2. Memory is highly dependent on context. Your mood, the folks you are currently hanging out with, and perhaps even the weather can all make an impact on how you recall memories.

Given this, it should come as no surprise that we sometimes fail to remember words we do not often use. Sometimes, the mind has almost, but not quite enough information to reconstitute what the word was. A small hint in the right direction could complete the job.

9th September 2010, 01:32 PM	#1
wasapi Master Poster Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2,384	Please help me remember what this is called. I hate it when this happens. The word is right there, then . . . I got nothing, not even the first letter. It is seeing faces or objects in clouds, steam on windows, ceiling tiles, ect. Phil P. gave a great lecture at TAM one year on this topic, having taken a photo of what appeared on the glass shower door after he had just stepped out of a hot shower and the image looked remarkably like Randi. Julia
wasapi Master Poster Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2,384

9th September 2010, 01:34 PM	#2
Professor Yaffle Butterbeans and Breadcrumbs Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Emily's shop Posts: 15,357	Pareidolia
	__________________ I think you'll find it's a little bit more complicated than that. My blog "Well I think I've made it abundantly clear in this thread I have no idea what I'm talking about..." - truethat

9th September 2010, 01:38 PM	#3
Ririon Cool cat Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Trondheim, Norway Posts: 2,063	Originally Posted by Professor Yaffle Pareidolia Yes, but it seems like to sell it, we need a spiffier name for it.
	__________________ Engineer by day, scientist by night.

9th September 2010, 02:00 PM	#4
Stray Cat Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: The Land That Time Forgot Posts: 6,510	Originally Posted by wasapi I hate it when this happens. The word is right there, then . . . I got nothing, not even the first letter. It is seeing faces or objects in clouds, steam on windows, ceiling tiles, ect. Paranoia? Just kidding.
	__________________ It's only my madness that stops me from going insane!

9th September 2010, 02:21 PM	#5
leon_heller Graduate Poster Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: St. Leonards-on-Sea, E. Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,090	It sounds similar to "The Tip of the Tongue Phenomenon". It's been studied quite extensively in psychology. It can easily be induced by taking less common words from a word frequency list, giving someone the dictionary definition for the word, and asking which word it is.
	__________________ Leon Heller G1HSM Last edited by leon_heller; 9th September 2010 at 02:22 PM.

9th September 2010, 02:54 PM	#6
wasapi Master Poster Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2,384	Originally Posted by Professor Yaffle Pareidolia Thank you Proffessor, I'm just suprised because I was sure that as soon as I heard it I would have a "Duh, of course" moment. Didn't happen. Of course you are right, I guess it's just this age - er - memory thing that keeps happening. Julia
wasapi Master Poster Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2,384

9th September 2010, 03:25 PM	#7
Rat Not bored. Never bored. Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: Leicester, UK Posts: 7,085	I forgot this very word the other day. I had to Google 'face on Mars' to find it.
	__________________ "Man muß den Menschen vor allem nach seinen Lastern beurteilen. Tugenden können vorgetäuscht sein. Laster sind echt." - Klaus Kinski UKLS 1988- Sitting on the fence throwing stones at both sides.

10th September 2010, 04:38 AM	#8
C_Felix Graduate Poster Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Right outside Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,041	Brain fart.

10th September 2010, 05:19 AM	#9
Starthinker Philosopher Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 5,014	Let's not forget apophenia which is seeing patterns where there are none. I run into this all the time when doing code breaking.
	__________________ \|¦¦\|¦ \|¦\|\|\|\|¦\|\|\|¦\|\|¦¦\|¦\|\|\|\|\|\|\|¦\|¦¦¦¦\|¦¦¦¦\|\|¦\|¦\|¦¦\|¦ \|¦¦\|¦ He who doubts victory has already lost the battle. Below the navel there is neither religion nor truth.

10th September 2010, 11:54 AM	#10
Spindrift Enturbulator Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Right here! Posts: 8,460	Originally Posted by Rat I forgot this very word the other day. I had to Google 'face on Mars' to find it. <-------- This face?
	__________________ I've always believed that cluelessness evolved as an adaptation to allow the truly appalling to live with themselves. - G. B. Trudeau A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it. - Kay, Men in Black.

10th September 2010, 10:08 PM	#11
Miss_Kitt Zombie Horse of Homeopathy Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lesser Seattle Posts: 3,629	wasapi, I hear you. Give to the March of Time! My doctor assures me that if this is only happening 8 or 10 times a day, and does not involve anything really important and common (like my husband's name) it's just normal aging. I do find that often the 'missing' word is there if I try several times over several minutes to retrieve it. It just takes longer and is harder to get it out. Earlier today I couldn't for the life of me remember "Skagway" -- the town in Alaska where I discovered that being seasick for 24 hours is enough to make you literally physically kiss the ground when you disembark! I came up with "Sitka"--which was close, but wrong--and was actually looking up "S" town names online when it came back to me. Three minutes and thinking about other S towns (Salmon le Sac? Sassequahannah?) instead of my famous instant recall of a decade ago, but it's still in there. Glad you found your missing word, and accept that it happens. Start learning ways to 'map back' to the lost data, it will only progress with time! Sympathetically, Miss_Kitt
	__________________ It's much better to live an honest life than a delusional one -- desertgal Magic thinking is a lead personal floatation device. It looks really reassuring, but it will drag you down--whatthebutlersaw

11th September 2010, 02:43 AM	#12
TubbaBlubba Knave of the Dudes Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Communist Kingdom of Sweden Posts: 7,415	Isn't it technically a minor seizure?
	__________________ Disagreement begets progress.

11th September 2010, 05:39 AM	#13
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,885	Originally Posted by Rat I forgot this very word the other day. I had to Google 'face on Mars' to find it. So did I. What's the word for it when that happens?
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,885

11th September 2010, 06:17 AM	#14
arthwollipot Observer of Phenomena Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: The other side of your screen Posts: 43,038	Deja vu?
	__________________ Jadey (in RvB game thread): I just want to take a moment to commend Arth on his role as Parasitic Alien Tumor. I think he really connected with the character and there were times when I forgot that he was just acting. That's the kind of talent that you can't teach.

11th September 2010, 11:23 AM	#15
wasapi Master Poster Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2,384	Originally Posted by Miss_Kitt wasapi, I hear you. Give to the March of Time! My doctor assures me that if this is only happening 8 or 10 times a day, and does not involve anything really important and common (like my husband's name) it's just normal aging. I do find that often the 'missing' word is there if I try several times over several minutes to retrieve it. It just takes longer and is harder to get it out. Earlier today I couldn't for the life of me remember "Skagway" -- the town in Alaska where I discovered that being seasick for 24 hours is enough to make you literally physically kiss the ground when you disembark! I came up with "Sitka"--which was close, but wrong--and was actually looking up "S" town names online when it came back to me. Three minutes and thinking about other S towns (Salmon le Sac? Sassequahannah?) instead of my famous instant recall of a decade ago, but it's still in there. Glad you found your missing word, and accept that it happens. Start learning ways to 'map back' to the lost data, it will only progress with time! Sympathetically, Miss_Kitt How interesting Miss Kitt, however I was a bit horrified the other day to blank on a close friends name for a moment. OK, I lie, it wasn't a close friend, it was my son. Usually I can do a quick and silent scan of the alphabet and the word pops out at me before I'm too embarrassed. But pareodolia just - wouldn't. So frustrating. And also thanks for letting me know that I will only have negative association with Skagway from now on. Julia
wasapi Master Poster Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2,384

14th September 2010, 10:36 PM	#16
RSLancastr www.StopSylvia.com Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 15,547	Originally Posted by wasapi I hate it when this happens. The word is right there, then . . . I got nothing, not even the first letter. It is called anomia, or nominal aphasia^WP. I had a couple of frustrating bouts of it after my stroke. I greatly amused one doctor by telling him that I could not remember the word for it. Quote: It is seeing faces or objects in clouds, steam on windows, ceiling tiles, ect. Oh, that. That is pareidolia. Quote: Phil P. gave a great lecture at TAM one year on this topic, having taken a photo of what appeared on the glass shower door after he had just stepped out of a hot shower and the image looked remarkably like Randi. Julia what a remarkable coincidence! I too see an image in my bathroom that looks a lot like Randi. In the mirror. And it seems to look a little more like him all the time...
	__________________ Who is "Kaz?" Read about her at www.StopKaz.com. Curious about Sylvia Browne? Read about her at www.StopSylvia.com. Ever wonder "What's the Harm?" with psychics, alternative medicine, etc?

15th September 2010, 05:40 AM	#17
marplots Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 5,420	So how come with anomia, we cannot recall the word, but we know that some other word isn't it? The phenomena is almost like we have a hole that only the correct answer will fit. And when we 'get it', we know. So what's going on in my brain with the 'tip of the tongue' phenomena? If I truly didn't know the word, you could suggest any nonsense word and I would have no grounds to dispute it. But I absolutely know when an answer is wrong.
marplots Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 5,420

15th September 2010, 07:33 AM	#18
Wowbagger The Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Westchester County, NY (when not in space) Posts: 13,533	Originally Posted by marplots So what's going on in my brain with the 'tip of the tongue' phenomena? If I truly didn't know the word, you could suggest any nonsense word and I would have no grounds to dispute it. But I absolutely know when an answer is wrong. It helps to understand two things: 1. Memory is NOT so much a storage/recall system. It is a destruction/reconstruction system. Your memory works by reconstructing "facts" that "sound good" in the current context of recall. Much of it is based on what tattered remains of details are stored in memory, but you might be surprised at just how much of it is made up on the spot. Much of it comes from loose associations with other memories. 2. Memory is highly dependent on context. Your mood, the folks you are currently hanging out with, and perhaps even the weather can all make an impact on how you recall memories. Given this, it should come as no surprise that we sometimes fail to remember words we do not often use. Sometimes, the mind has almost, but not quite enough information to reconstitute what the word was. A small hint in the right direction could complete the job.
	__________________ WARNING: Phrases in this post may sound meaner than they were intended to be. SkeptiCamp NYC: http://www.skepticampnyc.org/ An open conference on science and skepticism, where *you* could be a presenter! By the way, my first name is NOT Bowerick!!!!