TED-Ed: Earworms: Those songs that get stuck in your head - Elizabeth Hellmuth Margulis

Earworms are involuntary, repetitive tunes that get stuck in our heads. They are a common phenomenon, affecting over 90% of people weekly. Earworms are a form of auditory imagery, often triggered by repetition and modern technology. However, they are not a new phenomenon, as historical references like Mark Twain's work show. Music's representation in memory, where we anticipate notes, may explain why tunes, not other sensory experiences, become earworms. Understanding earworms could provide insights into human cognition.

What is an earworm?

• A type of auditory hallucination

• A psychological condition related to memory loss

• A fragment of a song that gets stuck in your head

• A type of insect that feeds on plants

When are earworms most likely to occur?

• During low-attention tasks like waiting for water to boil

• While listening to new music

• During tasks that require high concentration

• When reading a book

What role does repetition play in earworms?

• It triggers the earworm by reinforcing the tune

• It helps in forgetting the tune

• It has no effect on earworms

• It makes the tune less vivid

What historical evidence suggests that earworms are not a modern phenomenon?

• The popularity of classical music

• The invention of the phonograph

• Mark Twain's story about a town taken over by a jingle

• The rise of digital music streaming

Why might music, rather than other sensory experiences, become earworms?

• Music is less complex than other sensory experiences

• Music is always accompanied by lyrics

• Music is represented in memory in a way that anticipates the next note

• Music is more enjoyable than other senses