Why Do Songs Get Stuck in My Head?

Ever wonder why songs like “Baby Shark” and Rihanna’s “Work, Work, Work, Work, Work” get stuck in your head? 

More than 90% of adults report that this happens to them at least once a week. 

Turns out, this phenomenon is not only common, but is due to something called an earworm. Officially known as ‘involuntary musical imagery’ or ‘stuck song syndrome,’ earworms occur when fragments of music get stuck in your head after you’ve heard the song.

Generally, earworms can be about 15-20 seconds long; and once in your head, they can stay there for thirty minutes or more. Your brain experiences positive psychological effects when reintroduced to something it already knows, like a familiar beat, melody or chorus. Research suggests that songs may get stuck due to repetitive lyrics that activate the brain's reward system. 

Researchers at Gold Smith University have also linked the frequency of earworms with the size and shape of our brains. Chances are, if songs get stuck in your head a lot it means that your brain has more thickness in the areas responsible for auditory perception and voluntary music imagery. 

Studies have also shown that earworms can be triggered by seeing something that reminds you of a song. Like say, a red jacket like the one Micheal Jackson wore in Thriller. 

Experts say that to get rid of these pesky earworms, you can go on a music diet, listen to the song in full, sing God Save The Queen, or even try vigorously chewing a piece of gum.

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