<p><strong>Short answer</strong><br>
The key term in your question is working memory.</p>

<p><strong>Background</strong><br>
<strong><a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7143" rel="nofollow">Working memory</a></strong> is involved in information-processing functions such as encoding, storing, and retrieving data and it is a system that temporarily stored and manages information required to carry out cognitive tasks, such as learning, reasoning, and comprehension. </p>

<p>One relatively straightforward test to assess working memory is <strong>memory span</strong>. In this test the number of items (usually words or numbers) is determined that a person can hold onto and recall. In a typical test of memory span, an examiner reads a list of random numbers aloud at about the rate of one number per second. At the end of a sequence, the person being tested is asked to recall the items in order. The average memory span for normal adults is 7 items (source: <a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7143" rel="nofollow">Medicine Net</a>).</p>

<p>Note that the definition of <a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7143" rel="nofollow">working memory</a>, as opposed to short-term memory and, to a lesser extent, long-term memory are not that well defined. In fact, <a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7143" rel="nofollow">Medicine Net</a> links two identical webpages to <a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7142" rel="nofollow">short-term memory</a> and <a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7142" rel="nofollow">working memory</a>. The difference between working memory and short-term memory is indeed subtle. Working memory is generally thought to rely on short-term memory, but to additionally involve processes to effectively <em>use those memories</em> during cognitive tasks. The difference may be explained as <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2657600/" rel="nofollow">(Cowen, 2008)</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>[W]orking memory includes short-term memory and other processing
  mechanisms that help to make use of short-term memory.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The difference between short- and long-term memory stores is based on a difference in their <em>duration</em> and in their <em>capacity</em> <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2657600/" rel="nofollow">(Cowen, 2008)</a>. Long-term memory, not surprisingly, is of longer duration and it can hold much more information. However, it cannot be accessed as readily compared to short-term and working memory.  </p>

<p><sub><strong>Reference</strong><br>
<strong>-</strong> <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2657600/" rel="nofollow">Cowen, <em>Prog Brain Res</em> (2008); <strong>169</strong>: 323–38</a></sub></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-13T19:38:54.527Z
So in above dreaded and embarassing situation, short term memory is the one which is not functioning as expected?
Osama Mohammed Shaikh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-13T19:47:18.797Z
@OsamaMohammedShaikh - I would say working memory, as you are trying not only to remember your topics, but also wish to express them (*i.e.*, *use* them) in an ongoing conversation.
AliceD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-13T19:10:22.337Z
2016-06-13T19:28:22.147Z
2016-06-13T19:28:22.147Z
AliceD
<p>Suppose I am talking to someone and while talking more thoughts come to my mind that I wish to talk about. I postpone those thoughts, however, to tell everything synchronously, <em>i.e.</em>, I wish to tell the old thoughts first and then the new thoughts in sequence. But by the time I finish telling previous thoughts and try to come to those new thoughts that I postponed to tell, some are vanished. This must be a very common phenomenon, as everyone has experienced the dreaded </p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong><em>What on earth was I about to say...?</em></strong></p>
</blockquote>

<p>What is the term for this mental state, or of the process mentioned?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-13T19:49:17.517Z
I've edited the question in an attempt to generalize it into a topic applicable to the general population.
AliceD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-13T19:51:24.023Z
Yes I noticed, you have made the situation's description more accurate. Thank you for that.
Osama Mohammed Shaikh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-16T16:47:47.623Z
Working memory in the process though. But I would suppose also that the issue of interference should not be looked down upon here.
simplify
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-16T18:47:35.193Z
It's simpy call it "absentmindedness". We're all susceptible to such things and it doesn't neccessarily mean there's anything wrong with our mental processes.
VinceCurto
<cognitive-psychology><psychology>
What is the mental state called when I forget my thoughts?
Osama Mohammed Shaikh
# What is the mental state called when I forget my thoughts?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-06-13)

Suppose I am talking to someone and while talking more thoughts come to my mind that I wish to talk about. I postpone those thoughts, however, to tell everything synchronously, *i.e.*, I wish to tell the old thoughts first and then the new thoughts in sequence. But by the time I finish telling previous thoughts and try to come to those new thoughts that I postponed to tell, some are vanished. This must be a very common phenomenon, as everyone has experienced the dreaded

> ***What on earth was I about to say...?***

What is the term for this mental state, or of the process mentioned?

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, psychology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I've edited the question in an attempt to generalize it into a topic applicable to the general population.  
> **username_0**: Yes I noticed, you have made the situation's description more accurate. Thank you for that.  
> **username_2**: Working memory in the process though. But I would suppose also that the issue of interference should not be looked down upon here.  
> **username_3**: It's simpy call it "absentmindedness". We're all susceptible to such things and it doesn't neccessarily mean there's anything wrong with our mental processes.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-06-13. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

**Short answer**  
The key term in your question is working memory.

**Background**  
**[Working memory](http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7143)** is involved in information-processing functions such as encoding, storing, and retrieving data and it is a system that temporarily stored and manages information required to carry out cognitive tasks, such as learning, reasoning, and comprehension.

One relatively straightforward test to assess working memory is **memory span**. In this test the number of items (usually words or numbers) is determined that a person can hold onto and recall. In a typical test of memory span, an examiner reads a list of random numbers aloud at about the rate of one number per second. At the end of a sequence, the person being tested is asked to recall the items in order. The average memory span for normal adults is 7 items (source: [Medicine Net](http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7143)).

Note that the definition of [working memory](http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7143), as opposed to short-term memory and, to a lesser extent, long-term memory are not that well defined. In fact, [Medicine Net](http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7143) links two identical webpages to [short-term memory](http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7142) and [working memory](http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7142). The difference between working memory and short-term memory is indeed subtle. Working memory is generally thought to rely on short-term memory, but to additionally involve processes to effectively *use those memories* during cognitive tasks. The difference may be explained as [(Cowen, 2008)](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2657600/):

> [W]orking memory includes short-term memory and other processing
> mechanisms that help to make use of short-term memory.

The difference between short- and long-term memory stores is based on a difference in their *duration* and in their *capacity* [(Cowen, 2008)](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2657600/). Long-term memory, not surprisingly, is of longer duration and it can hold much more information. However, it cannot be accessed as readily compared to short-term and working memory.

**Reference**  
**-** [Cowen, *Prog Brain Res* (2008); **169**: 323–38](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2657600/)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: So in above dreaded and embarassing situation, short term memory is the one which is not functioning as expected?  
> **username_1**: @OsamaMohammedShaikh - I would say working memory, as you are trying not only to remember your topics, but also wish to express them (*i.e.*, *use* them) in an ongoing conversation.  

---

