Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 21, 2026

Assessment of Midline Lingual Point-Pressure Somatosensation Using Von Frey Hair Monofilaments
Published on: February 21, 2020
Tip of the Tongue States Increase Under Evaluative Observation
Lori E James1, Christopher J Schmank2, Nichol Castro2,3
1Psychology Department, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO, 80918, USA. ljames@uccs.edu.
Abstract:
We tested the frequent assumption that the difficulty of word retrieval increases when a speaker is being observed and evaluated. We modified the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) so that participants believed that its evaluative observation components continued throughout the duration of a subsequent word retrieval task, and measured participants' reported tip of the tongue (TOT) states. Participants in this TSST condition experienced more TOTs than participants in a comparable, placebo TSST condition in which there was no suggestion of evaluative observation. This experiment provides initial evidence confirming the assumption that evaluative observation by a third party can be disruptive to word retrieval. We interpret our findings by proposing an extension to a well-supported theoretical model of TOTs.
Related Concept Videos
Tip-of-the-Tongue Phenomenon
The Anchoring-and-Adjustment Heuristic
Assessment of the Mouth
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.
Fundamental Attribution Error
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
The Tongue and Taste Buds

