Certain tunes are more than just appealing—they seem to get “stuck” in our minds. Song fragments that we can’t stop humming are called “earworms.” Musical psychologist Elizabeth Margulis describes what might cause these tenacious tunes and why repetition in music is so catchy.
For more information on earworms, and the (very dangerous) Ultimate Earworm Playlist compiled by our listeners, check out http://scifri.me/1itfHXi.
