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Dr. James Kellaris is the world's leading earworm researcher. |
The marketing group at the University of Cincinnati offers research services for commercial clients interested in testing the memorability and “earworm potential” of songs, jingles, sonic branding, and audio logos is a specialty of our lab. For further information, please contact us at Earworms@UC.edu
Research Updates
Kellaris, James J. (2001), “Identifying Properties of Tunes That Get ‘Stuck in Your Head’: Toward a Theory of Cognitive Itch.” In Susan E. Heckler and Stewart Shapiro, ed.s, Proceedings of the Society for Consumer Psychology Winter 2001 Conference, Scottsdale, AZ, American Psychological Society, pp. 66-67.
This was the first study to examine the earworm phenomenon. It documented the pervasiveness of the phenomenon and sought to lay the ground work for a theory of “cognitive itch.” The primary focus was on identifying “sticky” properties of music that make becoming an earworm more likely. It appears that music characterized by simplicity, repetitiveness, and incongruity with listeners’ expectations is most likely to become “stuck.”
Kellaris, James J. (2003), “Dissecting Earworms: Further Evidence on the ‘Song-stuck-in-your-head’ Phenomenon.” In Christine Page and Steve Posavac, ed.s, Proceedings of the Society for Consumer Psychology Winter 2003 Conference, New Orleans, LA, American Psychological Society, 220-222.
This is a follow-up to the 2001 study. In addition to replicating results of the prior study, this study examined traits of people in relation to the frequency and duration of earworm episodes, and characteristics of the situations in which episodes arise.
Kellaris, James J. (2006), “Earworms, Cognitive Itch, and Ironic Processes: An Examination of the ‘Song Stuck in the Head’ Phenomenon,” working paper in progress. (Not available.)
This work in progress draws on the work of Wegner to explain the earworm phenomenon and explores the marketing implications of creating cognitive itches.
What’s next?
Future research at the University of Cincinnati will examine earworms in relation to situational influences and thought suppression attempts.
