Question: For those who know about how the brain works + psychology... Why do we get songs stuck in our heads?

Question

Why do we get songs stuck in out heads, and repeat them all day long? It's kind of creepy once you think about it, we just get a certain phrase in our heads and just repeat it over and over..... Why does this happen, like what's the brain doing etc... Thanks =)

I mean like, why are our brains so repetitive like that and what causes it? etc.. i want to know the psychology behind it and the functions.

Answer 1

Having songs "stuck in your head" happens to nearly all of us. Ninety-nine percent of study respondents said they have experienced the phenomenon. Almost 50 percent say that it occurs frequently.

Kellaris, an expert on the influences of music on consumers, is analyzing his theory that certain songs create a sort of "cognitive itch" - the mental equivalent of an itchy back.

"It is like the familiar pattern of itching and scratching," Kellaris says. "The only way to 'scratch' a cognitive itch is to rehearse the responsible tune mentally. The process may start involuntarily. The ensuing mental repetition may exacerbate the 'itch,' such that the mental rehearsal becomes largely involuntary, and the individual feels trapped in a cycle or feedback loop."

Simpler songs appear more likely to make your brain itch. Anyone who has ever had the misfortune of getting Barney's "I Love You, You Love Me" song stuck can attest to that. Generally, children's songs are more prone to getting stuck than classical music, Kellaris says.

When a song does something unexpected, it can also spark a cognitive itch. Unpredictable melodic patterns or an unexpectedly articulated individual note can have the same impact.

But, there's hope. Respondents also reported on the strategies they use to try and rid themselves of stuck tunes. Individual responses ranged from direct approaches like "trying to get busy doing something else" or "reading out loud" to acts of humorous desperation, such as "trying to give the 'tune kooties' to someone else, like (playing) tag, you're it!"

Answer 2

'songs stuck in our heads"= term 'earworms'
Search on Wikipedia for earworms-- it really is a topic!

According to Wiki, the area of the brain that is affected is the Phonological loop. It has to do with verbal recitation. Memory is usually kept there very short term, like, 2 seconds. When songs or phrases get stuck, the form a constant loop, aka: earworms

BTW: my tried and true method for getting rid of a persistant earworm is to sing it aloud to another person- giving it to them as a gift! ;)

Answer 3

song are made especially with phrases that repeat over and over again. this way, the song get popular and the band can make more music.

Answer 4

O.C.D.

just kidding,,,,,this is what I do ,,and it works,,,,
really,
tell yourself out loud STOP IT...... and then again inside your head....

now there is just silence,,,,,see it works
or replace it with another song,,,,

Answer 5

i get bored and sick and shout to my head inside to shut up
choose as best answer