Why a Song Gets Stuck in Your Head

You hear a song for ten seconds in a supermarket. Three days later, it's still playing in your head! Sound familiar? Scientists call it an earworm. Surprisingly, almost everyone gets them, every single week! And it's usually not the whole song. Ugh, just one tiny bit of the chorus, over and over! So why does this happen? Your brain hates things that feel unfinished. When you only hear part of a song, it keeps looping it, trying to complete it. Oh, and catchy songs make it even worse! Simple melodies, lots of repetition, and one surprising little jump. So, how do you make it stop? Believe it or not, try chewing gum. Chewing uses the same parts of your brain as silent singing. Or just listen to the whole song, right to the end. Then your brain can finally let it go. Ahh, silence!