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Lethogica

Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:28 am
by LukeJavan8
Lethologica is a condition in which someone cannot remember words, key phrases, and names. This results in an inability to express or articulate thoughts, which can be extremely frustrating for the patient. This condition is believed to be psychological in origin, although there is some evidence that there is a neurological component as well. There are no treatments, although some patients can develop coping skills which help them manage their memory loss.The key feature of lethologica is that it is temporary. The patient has not forgotten the information forever, experiencing instead momentary forgetting and confusion which make it hard to speak or convey key information. The duration of the temporary memory loss can vary, depending on the patient and the setting. Bouts of lethologica seem to be brought on by stress, including stress from being in a tense social situation, as well as intense physical exercise.

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 4:50 pm
by Slava
I keep meaning to say something about this one, but keep forgetting what it was I wanted to say. It's right there, on the tip of my tongue, but I can't stick it out far enough to read it. Sigh. Has my memory become a forgettery?

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 11:16 pm
by LukeJavan8
Could be a case of 1) half-timers,2)some-timers, or
3) part-timers.

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2011 10:52 pm
by MTC
The etymology of Lethologica is as interesting as the meaning: "The word lethologica is derived from the Greek language terms for forgetfulness (λήθη, lēthē) and word (λόγος, logos). Lēthē originates from Greek mythology; the Lethe (or River of Oblivion) was one of the rivers that flowed through the realm of Hades, from which the shades of the dead were forced to drink in order to forget their past lives on earth." (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethologica)

And just in case you think there is not a name for everything under the sun, consider "Tip of the Tongue" ("TOT") condition : "The tip of the tongue (TOT or Tot or Presque vu, from the French for "almost seen") phenomenon is an instance of knowing something that cannot immediately be recalled. TOT is an experience with memory recollection involving difficulty retrieving a well-known word or familiar name. When experiencing TOT, people feel that the blocked word is on the verge of being recovered. Despite failure in finding the word, people have the feeling that the blocked word is figuratively "on the tip of the tongue." (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tip_of_the_tongue) A number of languages use the very same expression.

Forgetting the word for French Fries would be "Tater TOT."

Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 12:26 pm
by LukeJavan8
I received an on-line jigsaw puzzle the other day,
and the person sending it said these puzzles were
great for improving 'tip of the tongue' experiences.
Enjoyed the comment. "Presque vu". I remember
teaching that phrase back when I taught French
decades ago. Thanks for memory.