You are watching a movie, and you recognize the leading actress from several other movies. You insist that you know her name, but you just can't remember it. This is known as _____.

The phenomenon you are experiencing is known as the "tip-of-the-tongue state." This occurs when you are unable to retrieve a word or name from memory, despite being confident that you know it and feeling that it is just out of reach. This state is characterized by a frustrating sensation, as you might recall related information about the actress, such as her roles in other movies or even her appearance, but struggle to produce her name.

This cognitive event highlights the difference between knowing something and being able to access it at a specific moment. The tip-of-the-tongue experience is often associated with various triggers, such as familiarity or recognition, which explains why you might recognize the actress but still can't recall her name. It is a normal aspect of memory retrieval and reflects the complexities involved in how we store and access information.