Have you ever hummed a tune all day long that you heard just once? The earworm effect is a common occurrence where a particular melody repeats in your mind against your will, which is experienced by most of the global population. Over 90% of people undergo at least once a week, with one in four experiencing it multiple times a day. But why does this happen?
What is the Earworm Effect?
The earworm effect, also known as earworm, refers to a specific melody or set of lyrics that keeps playing in your head all day, causing you to hum along. It is also interpreted as imaginary music or involuntary semantic memory. The term earworm was coined since people refer to this feeling as if they have a repetitive singing worm that won’t stop playing the tune in their head.
What Causes the Earworm Effect?
Why does the earworm effect occur? According to what we know, it’s a way for the brain to alleviate stress. When in a high-stress situation, such as facing an important exam, the body secretes the stress hormone cortisol, and the brain attempts to lessen the stress by diverting attention from one focal point to another. During this process, a specific part of the most memorable song you’ve heard recently may start to play on repeat.
It Can Induce a Pleasant Mood
According to a music psychology doctor in the UK, the earworm effect can instigate a pleasant mood. However, people find this phenomenon annoying since they fail to recognize their tasks in stressful situations.
Lasts Longer in Women than Men
The earworm effect lasts longer in women than men, and people in the music industry are more sensitive to it. According to research, songs with lyrics cause the earworm effect more frequently than instrumental music.
Songs that Cause the Earworm Effect
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The characteristics of songs that cause the earworm effect include a familiar melody, a slightly fast beat, and irregular intervals of notes.
Can Decrease Concentration
While the earworm effect can help alleviate tension in high-stress situations, it can also decrease concentration. This is why some highly addictive songs are called prohibited songs for exam takers. The severity and frequency of the earworm effect vary from person to person. In severe cases, it can disrupt daily life to the extent that people seek psychiatric help.
Chewing Gum Can Help
One way to overcome the earworm effect is to chew gum. The part of the brain responsible for listening to and remembering music is connected to the part of the brain that controls the movement of the mouth, so the earworm effect is less likely to occur when you chew food or talk.
Doing Sudoku or Puzzles
Solving Sudoku puzzles or other tasks can also reduce the earworm effect. The brain tends to focus on simple and regular games rather than acknowledging that it’s under stress, reducing the symptoms of the earworm effect and decreasing stress levels.
Avoid Addictive Songs
The earworm effect is more noticeable with songs that have lyrics, so listening to rhythm-only music or natural sounds like waves and rain or white noise can help alleviate the symptoms. Experts also suggest that if you find the specific song that’s causing the earworm effect and listen to it from beginning to end, the effect may disappear.
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