Got A Song Stuck In Your Head? Try These Tricks
Did a co-worker start humming "Baby Shark" and now it's stuck in your head? Then you’ve almost certainly had an earworm. We explain the science behind why it happens and what you can do to "deworm!"
Are you finding it impossible to “get rid of” that incredibly popular song that you’ve heard many times today? Did a colleague hum a few lines of Baby Shark and now it’s continuously replaying in your thoughts? Then, undoubtedly, you’ve fallen victim to an earworm. However, fear not! It’s not a creepy-crawly creature that resides in your ear. Instead, it refers to those catchy (albeit annoying) melodies that become lodged in your mind without any warning.
You may have come across alternate names for earworms such as brain worms, stuck song syndrome, cognitive itch, or the scientific term, involuntary musical imagery, abbreviated as INMI. An overwhelming 98% of individuals have experienced earworms, with 90% encountering at least one per week.
So, what is the reason behind this occurrence? And how can you cease it?!
Why Do We Get Earworms?
Over the past decade, there has been a significant amount of time and effort dedicated by the scientific community to researching earworms. Many experts believe that these catchy tunes hold the key to developing new techniques for learning and memorization. The cause of earworms can vary greatly, ranging from listening to a favorite song to a childhood memory, or even something as simple as boredom.
Although the factors that contribute to earworms can be diverse, certain aspects do appear to increase the likelihood of getting a song stuck in your head. For instance, if a song has a catchy tune that is easy to sing or hum, it is more prone to becoming an earworm. Repeat exposure to song lyrics or frequently hearing a particular song significantly heightens the chances of it turning into an earworm. Dr. Vicky Williamson from Goldsmiths, University of London, observed that during Michael Jackson’s trial, many individuals reported experiencing his songs being stuck in their heads.
Interestingly, daydreaming and stress seem to render individuals more susceptible to earworms. According to James Kellaris from the University of Cincinnati, women are more likely to be plagued by earworms than men. Musicians, due to spending a substantial amount of time rehearsing songs, are even more prone to experiencing earworms. Lastly, if you happen to be a chronic worrier, you not only have a higher likelihood of having an internal soundtrack, but also of being bothered by it.
“Deworming” Your Ears
Research from the Western Washington University suggests earworms most often get stuck in your working memory while you’re doing something that doesn’t require your full attention, like walking or doing the dishes. Therefore, the best way to rid yourself of an earworm is to use your working memory for something else. Psychologists suggest solving anagrams because challenges involving words seem to work best. However, anything that taxes your working memory (like a number puzzle or a good book) might work.
This strategy comes with a caveat, however: Your mental workout needs to be hard enough to provide you with a challenge, but it can’t be too hard, otherwise you’ll quickly lose focus on the task and the earworm will return.
If you don’t have a puzzle or a good book handy, here are some other strategies that might work:
Try a fun “eraser song”! If you happen to know a tune that might banish those pesky earworms, give it a go by singing or humming it. Just remember to proceed with caution, as your eraser song could potentially transform into a brand new earworm if you concentrate too intensely!
Take a moment to ponder why that catchy tune is stuck in your head. If the song is linked to something you’re not actively thinking about, such as a childhood memory or a news article you read, identifying the underlying cause may help you bid adieu to the melody.
Give chewing gum a try! Recent research from British scientists suggests a possible connection between the brain regions responsible for storing speech and music and the ones involved in generating them. They argue that it’s much more challenging to retain words or tunes while chewing gum.
If those strategies aren’t enough, then this next one is sure to work! Some researchers believe that earworms happen because of the Zeigarnik Effect, which causes your brain to dwell on an incomplete thought or process. Given that most earworms are short 15 to 30-second snippets of a song that repeats over and over, you might be able to break the cycle simply by satisfying your brain’s desire to hear the entire song.
Some songs become earworms more often than others do, but earworms are contagious, so we won’t list those catchy tunes here. If you know of a few sticky songs (or some ways to get rid of them) let us know in the comments section!
Our apologies in advance. Take a listen:
Related
Did you use a mnemonic device today to remember something?
Are you guilty of using these phrases incorrectly?
Amber Kanuckel
Amber Kanuckel is a freelance writer from rural Ohio who loves all things outdoors. She specializes in home, garden, environmental, and green living topics.
- Amber Kanuckel#molongui-disabled-link
- Amber Kanuckel#molongui-disabled-link
- Amber Kanuckel#molongui-disabled-link
- Amber Kanuckel#molongui-disabled-link
It’s the BeeGees song living it up? I don’t even want to look it up to see what it is called.
My dog passed away a couple of days ago and its broken my heart
I have a song in my head that i have never had before its cold play hhmm for the weekend. I do suffer with chronic anxiety and PTSD so it may be something i have had for a while but never noticed until i lost my dog?
It goes away when im at work or chatting to someone, but when im relaxed or its quite it comes back. Its actually giving me more anxiety in which i do not need
We are sorry about the loss of your dog. We hope you find peace (and quiet!) soon!
Here’s an ear worm: The Oscar Bologna song
6 months ago it was anything from En Canto (especially We Don’t Talk About Bruno). Now, it’s the Victoria’s Secret song by Jax. killing me all night.
I once had “White Wing Dove” by Stevie Nicks stuck in my head for 2 months!!! Every single day ALL day long for 2 months!!! Another song that was in my head for a few weeks was “The Sounds of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel
Omg. Geraldine by Miranda lambert is stuck in my head on repeat and I literally am going insane. Lol. It’s been there for over a week. Tiktok causes me to have constant earworms due to the short songs they play. Ugh.
Every. “Aqua.” Song. Ever.
Recently I saw a music clip of a sea shanty, and the catchy chorus has now been stuck in my head & waking me at around 01:00 am. I often get earworms but what’s interesting is that the ones that recur during waking hours are often an indication of my state of mind. For example, I was stuck in a job I hated and after a while I noticed I kept singing the same line from We Gotta Get Out Of This Place by The Animals under my breath. Whereas the earworms that wake me might be advertising jingles or pop tunes, & totally random stuff.
One time, I went to bed at 8:30 and fell asleep at 11:00 only bc of earworm
I have earworms 24/7. When I don’t listen to a song, I can hear a song deep inside my head.