Earworms

Earworms... ewww! Do you get them? You are not alone! Over 90% of people report experiencing the melodic earworm phenomenon at least once a week, and those with a musical background have actually been found to be particularly susceptible. I'm currently listening to Temple Square Chorale snippets free of charge in my head.

But why? What is the science behind it? Not surprisingly, this often occurs after engaging with a catchy piece of music frequently or repeatedly, until the tune is stuck in your head. You may be unable to shake it off and you might find yourself singing it out loud! Earworms are sometimes known as Involuntary Musical Imagery.

The actual word "earworm" is a centuries old English word and was another name for earwig, which similarly was believed to crawl into your ear! As musicians we know first hand that tunes can literally crawl their way into our ears! Gladly so, most times! But did you know that earworms can be considered by psychologists as "thought intrusions"?

The Kennedy Center has studied earworms and found they are a musical memory that can repeat uncontrollably for hours, days, even weeks at a time. You may find music trapped in a sort of loop, a tight neural circuit from which you cannot escape. Research indicates that nine out of ten people have experienced earworms that have lasted for an hour or longer. A few unfortunate folks even report having a song stuck in their heads for a year or more!

In a 2016 study, the melodies of frequent earworms were studied and found to have the following three common characteristics:         

-upbeat tempos. Think "Standing on the Promises". It has been admitted by Ryan that his arrangement was formulated and composed while walking the track at his local rec center. Literally on loop!

-simple melodic contour, particularly when the first phrase rises in pitch and the second falls. Nursery rhymes often follow this pattern, making them easy for young children to remember, such as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Or one we do often of Mack's: "Simple Gifts".

-unique intervals between notes, such as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Our own choir doctor Dave Palmer pointed out to me that the theme tune for NBC has the same catchy interval as our opening sign-on, "Gently Raise the Sacred Strain". Ok, yes, that's where I had heard it!

In order to get stuck in your head, earworms rely on brain networks that are involved in perception, emotion, memory, and spontaneous thought. They may show up when you are feeling good, or when you are in a dreamy (inattentive) state. Maybe you are stressed about having too much to think about. It's as if your stressed-out brain latches onto a repetitive idea and sticks with it. 

Music has such a repetitive nature, and processing it in our brains actually becomes pleasurable when it is understood subtly different each time it is repeated. As humans we are attracted to repetition, even as adults. We want the stimulus and the reward again and again, and in music we get it. This kind of activity can give various advantages to the brain, contributing to clear thinking and creativity. Perhaps, therefore, we should not be surprised when the balance sometimes shifts too far and our musical sensitivity becomes a vulnerability.

If you are feeling plagued, however, here are a few ways to get rid of those pesky earworms, according to experts:

-Listen to the whole song. Enjoying the entire song often eliminates it from "being stuck on a loop" in your head. It is commonly believed that earworms occur when you remember only part of a song. Resisting the song may actually make your brain keep playing it over and over again.

-Distract yourself from the song. Think of -or listen to- a song you like better!

-Let it fade naturally on it's own.

-Chew gum. One study showed that when people chewed gum right after listening to an especially catchy tune, they were less likely to be invaded by an earworm!

As performers in this organization we are often putting ourselves at high risk! Fortunately we are constantly blessed with the most glorious music by Mack and Ryan, creating earworms to enjoy long after a broadcast or concert is over. Too bad for others who get tunes like "Baby Shark" stuck in their heads. Aaaaand there we, go. "Baby Shark" is now your current earworm.

Quick, go chew some gum or listen to a Tabernacle Choir playlist on Spotify.