 | Dr. Earworm studies your brain, so you don't have to! |
- What is an earworm?
- What is the origin of the term? Who coined the term?
- What causes earworms? How do songs become stuck in one’s head?
- What characteristics of songs makes them “sticky?” What types of music are most likely to become earworms?
- What is “cognitive itch?”
- Who is most prone to earworms?
- When are earworms most likely to bite?
- How long do earworms normally last?
- Do marketers create earworms on purpose? Is there a formula for creating an earworm?
- How can I get rid of an earworm? Is there a treatment/cure?
- How do I know if I have a serious problem?
- Do earworms serve some useful, evolutionary purpose?
1. What is an earworm? An earworm is a song, tune, or commercial jingle that gets “stuck” in one’s head, such that it seems to repeat itself involuntarily. Earworms are often described as “catchy” music that becomes annoying. An earworm is not actually heard, but rather rehearsed mentally. [ Top of Page ] 2. What is the origin of the term? Who coined the term? The term “earworm” is a literal translation of a common German word (ohrwurm). In English, the earworm phenomenon is also referred to as a “stuck song syndrome,” “repetunitis,” “tune cooties,” “audio virus,” “melodymania,” and a variety of other expressions. Contrary to reports in the popular press, Dr. James Kellaris of the University of Cincinnati did not coin the term, nor has he ever claimed to have invented the term. Perhaps he can be credited with popularizing the term in English; however, it was in use (among German-English bilinguals) before Kellaris began researching the phenomenon. [ Top of Page ] 3. What causes earworms? How do songs become stuck in one’s head? The short, honest answer is: no one knows for certain. But there are some interesting, albeit speculative theories. For example, initially Dr. Kellaris thought the answer could be found in certain properties of music that make some songs “catchy” or “sticky.” But research shows that although many earworms seem to share some common traits (e.g., simplicity, repetitiveness, incongruity with listeners’ expectations), virtually any song can become an earworm for some people. Additionally, some people are more prone to earworms than others. So the phenomenon may be an interaction of musical properties and individual traits, the result of musical properties alone. According to Kellaris’ (2001) Theory of Cognitive Itch, certain properties of music may be analogous to biochemical agents, such as histamines, which cause in itch on the skin. Exposure to such music may cause a sort of “cognitive itch” in one’s mind. The only way to scratch a cognitive itch is to repeat the offending music mentally. But this only exacerbates the itch, trapping the hapless victim in an involuntary cycle of repeated itching and scratching. Stuck songs may be like stuck thoughts – a temporary failure of our mental control system. In his theory of ironic processes, Psychologist Daniel Wegner points out that to suppress an undesired thought we must keep that thought we are suppressing in the back of our mind. So, to suppress our thinking about a song, we must remember what it is we are trying not to think about. Try hard not to think about “It’s a Small World After All.” Now what is it you’re trying not to think about? Aaaaaaagh!!! Some people believe that earworms are a manifestation of one’s subconscious attempting to send a message, or perhaps even the voice of God “trying to tell us something.” Anecdotes about an atheist getting hymn tunes stuck in her head seem to lend credence to this explanation. However, the theory doesn’t explain why most of us get silly nonsense like “Doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah-ditty” stuck in our heads. One survey respondent posed a theory based on an acoustical engineering concept: resonant frequencies. Just as a structure will vibrate sympathetically in concert with certain tones (“resonant frequencies”), certain songs may activate an analogous mechanism in the human body. At the time of this posting, no one has explored relationships between stuck songs and the body’s natural rhythms, such as pulse or respiration rates. Earworm episodes may occur as a temporary failure of mental control / thought suppression. As the American psychologist Daniel Wegner pointed out, the harder we try not to think about a white bear, the more likely we are to think about it. Or, as one hapless earworm victim put it, “you can’t fight an earworm – that only makes it angrier!” Yet another informal theory holds that earworms may keep our mental engines idling, such that we can make a faster start when circumstances compel us to think. As one survey respondent speculated, “Perhaps earworms are to the brain what chewing gum is to the jaws – just a way to stay busy.” To complicate the picture even further – consider that earworms may not have a single cause. An earworm may be like a stomach ache, for which there are many different possible causes. For example, just as over-eating, excess acid, viral infection, spicy foods late at night, or emotional upset may cause the phenomenon people describe as a stomach ache, there may be many different causes of earworm episodes, such as stress, fatigue, over-exposure to music, hearing only half of a song before getting out of your car, or not being able to remember part of a song that surfaces in memory. [ Do you have a theory about earworms? Send it to us at Earworms@UC.edu ] [ Top of Page ] 4. What characteristics of songs makes them “sticky?” What types of music are most likely to become earworms? According to research conducted by University of Cincinnati professor James Kellaris, virtually any song can become an earworm. However, songs that are simple, repetitive, and contain some incongruity – an unexpected twist – are most likely to become stuck. [ Top of Page ] 5. What is “cognitive itch?” According to Kellaris’ (2001) Theory of Cognitive Itch, certain properties of music may be analogous to biochemical agents, such as histamines, which cause in itch on the skin. Exposure to such music may cause a sort of “cognitive itch” in one’s mind. The only way to scratch a cognitive itch is to repeat the offending music mentally. But this only exacerbates the itch, trapping the hapless victim in an involuntary cycle of repeated itching and scratching. [ Top of Page ] 6. Who is most prone to earworms? Most people experience the phenomenon at some point. Some people, however, experience earworms more often. Among them are musicians (versus non-musicians), women (versus men), and individuals who are prone to worry. [ Top of Page ] 7. When are earworms most likely to bite? Research indicates that an earworm episode can arise at any time. It is completely random. But some people report primacy and recency effects, i.e., getting the first or last song they hear stuck in their head. Earworms are also more likely to occur when one is stressed or fatigued. [ Top of Page ] 8. How long do earworms normally last? An earworm episode can last anywhere from a few minutes to many days. Most people report episodes lasting from a few hours to an entire day; however, episodes lasting over a week are not uncommon. [ Top of Page ] 9. Do marketers create earworms on purpose? Is there a formula for creating an earworm? Of course marketers would love to get their messages stuck in consumers’ heads. In a sense, a jingle that becomes an earworm get “free air play.” But there is a risk of annoying prospective customers to the point that creating an earworm on purpose becomes counter-productive. There is no secret formula for creating an earworm. But professional composers certainly know what attributes of music make a piece “catchy.” This is not a trade secret. [ Top of Page ] 10. How can I get rid of an earworm? Is there a treatment/cure? There is no certain remedy. Try distraction, replacement, or listening/singing through a stuck song from beginning to end. Most importantly, however, try not to worry about it too much. And when all else fails, visit our virtual clinic. [ Top of Page ] 11. How do I know if I have a serious problem? You probably don’t. Earworms are common. Most people experience them at some time. They can last a long time and be extremely annoying, but usually dissipate on their own. Earworms are worse among people who worry. So stop worrying already! And, if that doesn’t work, visit the VIRTUAL CLINIC section of this web site for some strategies to combat earworms. If you are experiencing auditory hallucinations – that is, if you are actually hearing music that is not playing externally – consult a mental health professional immediately. This site does not contain information about endomusia (hearing music that’s not there) or its treatment. [ Top of Page ] 12. Do earworms serve some useful, evolutionary purpose? Perhaps not. (Do hangnails and abscessed teeth?) Looking for a useful purpose for earworms may be like trying to find secret, subconscious meanings in a stuck song. Earworms are, for the most part, an annoying but harmless, temporary breakdown in mental control. (For other theories see FAQ #3.) [ Top of Page ]
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