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tip of the tongue phenomenon

A cognitive state in which a person is confident that they know a word or piece of information but cannot retrieve it from memory.

Examples:

During the quiz, I experienced a tip of the tongue phenomenon when I couldn't recall the author's name, even though I was sure I knew it.
He was searching for that term related to psychology, but it was just out of reach, a classic tip of the tongue moment.

lapse

A temporary failure of memory, attention, or judgment.

Examples:

After a brief lapse in concentration, she forgot the directions she had been given.
His lapse in memory cost him an important opportunity at work.

mental block

An inability to recall a particular thought or memory, often due to psychological reasons.

Examples:

She hit a mental block when trying to write the essay, unable to connect her thoughts.
The actor experienced a mental block during the audition and forgot his lines.

memory slip

A brief and temporary inability to remember something.

Examples:

I had a memory slip and forgot where I placed my keys, even though I was just holding them.
He experienced a memory slip about the meeting details, despite having prepared for it.

cognitive hiccup

A momentary disruption in one’s thought process that causes difficulty in recalling information.

Examples:

While giving a presentation, she had a cognitive hiccup and couldn’t remember a key fact.
His cognitive hiccup made him stumble when asked a question about his research.