Chapter 03 of 5
Earworms
Why songs get stuck in your head, and the science-backed ways to get them out.
- The Problem
Stuck on repeat
You hear a few seconds of a song and it loops in your head for hours. You didn't ask for it.
- The Name
Earworm
The word "earworm" comes from the German "Ohrwurm". Scientists call it "involuntary musical imagery".
- The Spread
Almost everyone
A Finnish study found that around nine in ten people get an earworm at least once a week.
17 more cards in this chapter
Could you answer this?
Which of these did a study find can help get rid of an earworm?
🧠 Why Music Moves Us
- 01The Shiver Down Your SpineWhy some songs give you goosebumps, and what's happening in your brain when they do.
- 02The Thrill of ExpectationHow music plays with your predictions, and why familiar songs feel so good.
- 03EarwormsWhy songs get stuck in your head, and the science-backed ways to get them out.
- 04The Pleasure of Sad SongsWhy we choose music that makes us cry, and why it can feel so good.
- 05Music That RemembersWhy the songs of your youth stick for life, and how music reaches people when memory fades.