Have you ever wondered why you listen to a song and suddenly it’s stuck in your head all day? All of us have been through this, but not many of us know why. Psychology has now revealed, the reasons behind not being able to get a song out of our heads. Besides the scientific explanation, we also show you what you can do about it.
This Is Actually A Common Phenomenon
Research show that it’s very common to have a song stuck in your head. In fact, a study published in the Journal Psychology of Music , found out that 90% of internet users reported getting a song stuck in their heads at least once a week.
That being said, what is the actual scientific explanation to this phenomenon? Basically, our earworms are referred to as involuntary musical imagery. They pick up longer notes with smaller intervals of pitch between them faster. However, another study found out that sometimes, easy songs just have more chances of getting stuck in our heads.
Are Earworms Good Or Bad For You?
When we listen to music, it instantly activates our senses. Our earworms rely on the brain networks, to perceive emotions, memory and spontaneous thoughts. You know when they say that in order to remember something, you must repeat it 7 times? Well, that’s what ear worms do. They facilitate the repetition process, and trigger a different perception of music every time you listen to it. According to Harvard researchers, earworms are a form of spontaneous mental activity, and mind-wandering states. They have various advantages on the brain, contributing to clear thinking and creativity.
How To Get a Song Out of Your Head
In order to get a song out of your head, it is shockingly recomended that you do not block the thought, rather accept and take it out. Psychologist Daniel Wegner claims that trying to block a song from your head will make your brain play it more, in what he referred to as the ‘‘ironic process”.
However, another simple method is to try to talk back to your brain. Replacing negative dysfunctional thoughts with positive ones. Psychologists also believe that chewing gum tricks the brain into interfering with the thought of the song and consequently, can be used as a a less intuitive cure for earworms.
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