Why do some songs get stuck in your head?

The phenomenon of having a song stuck in your head is commonly called an "earworm" or involuntary musical imagery. Scientifically, earworms occur when a catchy piece of music involuntarily repeats in your mind, often without any conscious effort. This happens because certain melodies or rhythms activate neural pathways in the brain associated with memory and auditory processing. Research suggests that earworms are linked to the brain’s auditory cortex, which processes sound, and the motor planning areas, which can simulate the act of singing or humming internally. When a song has a simple, repetitive, and memorable melody—especially with a strong beat or rhythm—it is more likely to become an earworm. These characteristics make the tune easy to recall and loop mentally. Additionally, if a song was recently heard or is emotionally significant, it has a higher chance of resurfacing involuntarily. Some theories also propose that earworms serve a cognitive function, helping the brain rehearse or consolidate memories. However, they can be annoying because the repetition interrupts other mental activities. Strategies to reduce earworms include listening to the entire song, engaging in a different cognitive task, or focusing on a different type of music or sound to "reset" your mental playlist. Overall, earworms are a normal and common experience rooted in how our brains process and remember music.