# Term for a cognitive phenomenon related to recalling memory
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-a-cognitive-phenomenon-related-to-recalling-memory/577670
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 8, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-a-cognitive-phenomenon-related-to-recalling-memory/577670 "2011-04-08T15:32:09Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-a-cognitive-phenomenon-related-to-recalling-memory/577670/1 "2011-04-08T15:32:09Z")
I remember reading about a phenomenon of arriving at a logical conclusion or perhaps a tip-of-tongue memory through a process of talking about various things that are related to the idea. There is a specific term for this. Does anyone know what it is?
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### Author:  [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-a-cognitive-phenomenon-related-to-recalling-memory/577670/2 "2011-04-08T16:46:50Z")
Some kind of “activation”, maybe? My memory is failing me…
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### Author:  [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-a-cognitive-phenomenon-related-to-recalling-memory/577670/3 "2011-04-08T16:54:04Z")
Can you give an example? I’m not sure what you are talking about.
Are you talking mnemonics or a recall ability?
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### Author:  [@biqu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biqu)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-a-cognitive-phenomenon-related-to-recalling-memory/577670/4 "2011-04-09T19:17:20Z")
[free association](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_association_%28psychology%29) perhaps?