How does your brain know that you know something when you can’t remember it?

# Psychology

The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical concepts

How does your brain know that you know something without being able to remember it at the time? For example, knowing a word that could be used perfectly in context but not being able to remember the word. Felix Buda

Post your answers (and new questions) below or send them to nq@theguardian.com. A selection will be published on Sunday.

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