Why is it that if we forget the name of something we can't just come up with a name for it?

[Qacer]

I was driving home today, and I forgot the name of the glue that I use on screws so they don't come loose. I was trying to think of its name, but I still could not remember it. But something is telling me that whatever name I come up for it is not the right one. Why is that?


As a side note, I found this tip:

An old mnemonic system may be used a new way.

The system associates the main consonant sounds in English with the
numerals. T = 1, N = 2, M = 3, R = 4, L = 5, G = 6, C = 7, F = 8, B = 9, and S = 0. Lucas and Lorayne's old Memory Book used the sentence TeN MoRe LoGiC FiBS as a trick way to remember it. My new trick associates the consonant sounds with your ten fingers. T = LEFT PINKIE, N = LEFT RING FINGER, M = LEFT MIDDLE FINGER, R = LEFT INDEX FINGER, L = LEFT THUMB,G = RIGHT THUMB, C = RIGHT INDEX FINGER, F = RIGHT MIDDLE FINGER, B = RIGHT RING FINGER, and S = RIGHT PINKY.

Now the trick is to imagine your fingers on a piano keyboard and remembering TEN MORE LOGIC FIBS, practice playing the name on your fingers a few times. Say the name is Clare. Practice the appropriate finger presses (RIGHT INDEX FINGER, LEFT THUMB, RIGHT INDEX FINGER) as if it were a piano tune.

I find that when I try to recall a person's name, but I have forgotten the new name, my fingers try pressing appropriately if I had "practiced playing" the name. Pianists say The fingers remember the music; our fingers can remember names.

If what is quoted holds true, then maybe I can start using body cues to remember answers to exam questions.

 

[ManyBeers]

Originally posted by: Qacer
I was driving home today, and I forgot the name of the glue that I use on screws so they don't come loose. I was trying to think of its name, but I still could not remember it. But something is telling me that whatever name I come up for it is not the right one. Why is that?


As a side note, I found this tip:

An old mnemonic system may be used a new way.

The system associates the main consonant sounds in English with the
numerals. T = 1, N = 2, M = 3, R = 4, L = 5, G = 6, C = 7, F = 8, B = 9, and S = 0. Lucas and Lorayne's old Memory Book used the sentence TeN MoRe LoGiC FiBS as a trick way to remember it. My new trick associates the consonant sounds with your ten fingers. T = LEFT PINKIE, N = LEFT RING FINGER, M = LEFT MIDDLE FINGER, R = LEFT INDEX FINGER, L = LEFT THUMB,G = RIGHT THUMB, C = RIGHT INDEX FINGER, F = RIGHT MIDDLE FINGER, B = RIGHT RING FINGER, and S = RIGHT PINKY.

Now the trick is to imagine your fingers on a piano keyboard and remembering TEN MORE LOGIC FIBS, practice playing the name on your fingers a few times. Say the name is Clare. Practice the appropriate finger presses (RIGHT INDEX FINGER, LEFT THUMB, RIGHT INDEX FINGER) as if it were a piano tune.

I find that when I try to recall a person's name, but I have forgotten the new name, my fingers try pressing appropriately if I had "practiced playing" the name. Pianists say The fingers remember the music; our fingers can remember names.

If what is quoted holds true, then maybe I can start using body cues to remember answers to exam questions.

Loctite.

 

[Qacer]

Originally posted by: ManyBeers
Loctite.

Ahh, thanks! I was actually looking around my place to find that darn glue because I still could not remember the name.