Book 2, Question 6
Why Do Songs Get Stuck in Our Head?
Have you ever had a song play again and again in your head, even when you wanted it to stop? That's an earworm! Short, loop-y bits of music are easy for your brain to replay.
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 2
More fun facts
- The word earworm comes from the German word Ohrwurm.
- Other names for it are stuck song syndrome and musical imagery repetition.
- Most earworms are just a small part of a song, about 15 to 30 seconds long.
- In one study, 90 percent of people said they got a song stuck in their head at least once a week.
- Earworms often show up when your brain is not busy, like in the shower or on a walk.
- Just hearing one word from a song's lyrics can be enough to start an earworm.
- Scientists found that certain kinds of melodies are more likely to get stuck than others.
Sources: BBC, Cleveland Clinic, Smithsonian Magazine
Questions kids ask
How do I get a song out of my head?
Sometimes it helps to engage with the song instead of fighting it, which can break the loop.