DO you ever find yourself with a song stuck in your head, even if you don't particularly like it or know where it came from?
You may have an earworm, a catchy piece of music that plays involuntarily in your mind. Earworms are quite common, with some studies suggesting that up to 98% of people experience them.
New research published in the journal Music & Science suggests that repetition is the key factor that causes earworms. The study's author, Professor Emery Schubert, explains that the chorus of a song is usually the most repeated section, which is why it often becomes an earworm.
However, repetition alone is not enough; familiarity and recency of the music, as well as being in a relaxed and low-attentional state, are also necessary preconditions.
While some people may find earworms enjoyable, they can be a problem if the music is not liked. To get rid of an earworm, one can try finishing the music, consciously thinking of another song, or avoiding triggers like lyrics or memories associated with the music.
Earworms provide insights into how we organize and recall material, and further research is needed to understand their nature and their implications for cognition and memory.
