The speaker’s lexical-semantic network in the tip of the tongue state

All speakers experience the Tip-of-the-Tongue (ToT) phenomenon when trying to retrieve specific words. ToTs have been explained by a temporary reduction of lexical-phonological transmission or inhibition of competitors in the mental lexicon. An alternative way to approach ToTs is to consider the state of the lexical-semantic network of the speaker. Here we investigate how the organisation of the lexical-semantic network of the speaker differs between accessible words and ToTs. 40 neurotypical young adults performed a picture-naming task with low frequency items to induce ToT states, followed by a continuous free word association task. Accessible words were characterised by richer lexical-semantic networks with more superordinate associates, whereas ToT states were marked by more heterogeneous networks dominated by coordinate associates. The organisation of the lexical-semantic network differs depending on the ability to access the word at a given time at the individual level, providing further hints to understand ToT states.