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鈥溾�� are unwanted catchy tunes that repeat in your head. These relentless tunes play in a loop in . For they are neutral to positive, but the remaining third find it disturbing or annoying when these songs wriggle their way into the brain鈥檚 memory centers and set up home, threatening to disrupt their inner peace.

Which songs become earworms?

Certain songs are catchier than others, and so more likely to 鈥渁uto repeat鈥� in your head. When music psychologist Kelly Jakubowski and her colleagues why, they found these songs were faster and simpler in melodic contour (the pitch rose and fell in ways that made them easier to sing). And the music also had some unique intervals between notes that made the song stand out. The catchiest tunes on the UK charts between 2010 and 2013 were 鈥淏ad Romance鈥� by Lady Gaga, 鈥淐an鈥檛 Get You Out Of My Head鈥� (somewhat ironically) by Kylie Minogue, and 鈥淒on鈥檛 Stop Believin鈥欌�� by Journey.

What predisposes to earworms?

In order to get stuck in your head, earworms rely on brain networks that are involved in perception, emotion, memory, and spontaneous thought. They are typically triggered by , though they may also creep up on you when you are , or when you are in a (inattentive) or state. And they may also show up when you are . It鈥檚 as if your and sticks with it. Also, if you have a , you may be more susceptible to earworms too.

Certain personality features also may predispose you to being haunted by a catchy tune. If you are , (anxious, self-conscious, and vulnerable), or if you are someone who is typically , you may be more likely to fall prey to an earworm.

Why might earworms be good for you?

There is a particular characteristic of music that lends itself to becoming an earworm. In contrast to our daily speech, music typically has repetition built into it. Can you imagine how absurd it would be if people repeated themselves in chorus? Yet, though childishness, regression, and even insanity, in the case of music it may signify a process that becomes pleasurable when it is understood through repetition. Also, , you hear something subtly different. This learning may constitute one of the positive aspects of earworms. Also, earworms are a form of spontaneous mental activity, and confer various advantages to the brain, contributing to clear thinking and creativity.

Are earworms ever worrisome?

Not all 鈥渟tuck songs鈥� are benign. they occur with obsessive-compulsive disorder, psychotic syndromes, migraine headaches, unusual forms of epilepsy, or a condition known as palinacousis 鈥� when you continue to hear a sound long after it has disappeared. Persistent earworms (lasting more than 24 hours) may be caused by many different illnesses, such as or metastasizing to the brain. A physician can help you determine if your earworm is serious or not.

How do you get rid of earworms?

If you鈥檝e had enough of your earworm and need to stop it in its tracks, you would be well warned , but rather to passively accept it. A determined effort to block the song out may result in the very opposite of what you want. Called 鈥溾�� and studied extensively by psychologist Daniel Wegner, .

Some people try to distract themselves from the song, and it works. In , the most helpful 鈥渃ure鈥� tunes were 鈥淕od Save The Queen鈥� by Thomas Arne and 鈥淜arma Chameleon鈥� by Culture Club. Others , because it is commonly believed that earworms occur when you remember only part of a song; hearing the entire song may extinguish it.

Other techniques found to be helpful include those from , such as replacing dysfunctional thoughts like 鈥淭hese earworms indicate I am crazy鈥� with 鈥淚t is normal to have earworms.鈥� A less intuitive cure for earworms is . It interferes with hearing the song in your head.

In where the earworms are overwhelming, a physician may prescribe antidepressants (which also help obsessive-compulsive disorders).

Conclusion

In most cases, earworms are neutral to pleasant, not serious, and may even be part of your brain鈥檚 creative process. In a few cases, especially when they continue for more than 24 hours, earworms may indicate something more serious. In those cases, seeing your primary care physician may help you metaphorically take the needle off the stuck record so that you can regain your peace of mind.