You have hummed, sung, and whistled the same catchy tune for the last forty-five minutes all the while to your loved one's or colleague's dismay...and you have not even noticed yourself being a slave to the song's irresistible draw.
So how does one particular song seep its way into your mind to gradually, stubbornly take control of you as Ruler of your mind, King of your crown?
Professor James Kellaris from the University of Cincinnati calls the uninvited tunes "Earworms". The term "earworm" is a translation of the German word Ohrwurm, used to describe the "musical itch" of the brain. Simply put, Earworms are songs or tunes that become stuck in the part of the brain that rehearses verbal information through the processes of short term memory. This usually happens when a person sings the song or hums the tune once and then repeats it in his or her mind.
Synonyms for earworms include "Last Song Syndrome", "repetuneitis", or in extreme degree "melodymania". A "repetune" is a song or other musical piece stuck in one's head. Earworms are no laughing matter to some, especially to those with Obsessive Compulsive tendencies. Medication is even prescribed to some, however ridiculous it may seem.
Professor Kellaris has identified two characteristics that all "Earworms" have in common:
1. An element of repetition - like in the theme from the film "Mission: Impossible", "Dragnet", "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", you get the idea...
2. Simplicity - this is why children's tunes are more likely to stick with you than more complex material - it would be a rare moment to hear anyone humming Bach's Fugues on any ordinary day...rather "Go Tell Aunt Rhodie", "Skip, Skip, Skip to My Lou" or some other simple song is more likely to be heard.
Synonyms for earworms include "Last Song Syndrome", "repetuneitis", or in extreme degree "melodymania". A "repetune" is a song or other musical piece stuck in one's head. Earworms are no laughing matter to some, especially to those with Obsessive Compulsive tendencies. Medication is even prescribed to some, however ridiculous it may seem.
Professor Kellaris has identified two characteristics that all "Earworms" have in common:
1. An element of repetition - like in the theme from the film "Mission: Impossible", "Dragnet", "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", you get the idea...
2. Simplicity - this is why children's tunes are more likely to stick with you than more complex material - it would be a rare moment to hear anyone humming Bach's Fugues on any ordinary day...rather "Go Tell Aunt Rhodie", "Skip, Skip, Skip to My Lou" or some other simple song is more likely to be heard.
So why do we not find ourselves constantly inhabited by earworms? Every moment of the day we are filled with fresh auditory information which constantly distracts us from concentrating on earworms. Still, people react differently to this stuck-song syndrome. Kellaris discovered that women are more susceptible to earworms than men. And musicians more than non-musicians. "Musicians are probably prone to earworms by merit of the greater exposure to music and repetition they encounter in rehearsals," he says. "But why are women? That is a mystery." Interestingly enough, Kellaris says earworms are more problematic for those inclined to worry, and women had higher neuroticism scores than men.
Don't blame me...it is a scientific report, fellow ladies of the world.
So how can you get rid of pesky earworms without calling for federations to be established and petitioning the government to place warning stickers on all potential earworms? You may seem a hopeless case to your family and friends after the 10th time of promising not to utter another note of the pesky earworm for the rest of your life, only to obliviously hum the whole song a minute later. Professor Kellaris certainly suggests a mischievous way if you have had enough self-control to keep the earworm to yourself and it is to play a game of tag with your unsuspecting neighbour by singing the song that is haunting you in the hopes of passing it along to your victim. That way it can still be registered by your mind, only you are not the one singing it anymore. Diabolical for sure!
What to do, what to do? Some people swear by 'eraser tunes'; tunes that have a mystical ability to eat any other earworms. Singing the eraser tune rids one of an earworm but risks replacing it with the eraser song. Ahhh! Where does it end?? We Are the Champions is cautiously suggested, but do not use it too much...it is a bit catchy.
If all else fails, look to the beacon of light, the ray of hope, the epitome of....okay, well, just look up Maim That Tune...prettypicture.com/maim...for all your ear-worm eradication needs.
So how can you get rid of pesky earworms without calling for federations to be established and petitioning the government to place warning stickers on all potential earworms? You may seem a hopeless case to your family and friends after the 10th time of promising not to utter another note of the pesky earworm for the rest of your life, only to obliviously hum the whole song a minute later. Professor Kellaris certainly suggests a mischievous way if you have had enough self-control to keep the earworm to yourself and it is to play a game of tag with your unsuspecting neighbour by singing the song that is haunting you in the hopes of passing it along to your victim. That way it can still be registered by your mind, only you are not the one singing it anymore. Diabolical for sure!
What to do, what to do? Some people swear by 'eraser tunes'; tunes that have a mystical ability to eat any other earworms. Singing the eraser tune rids one of an earworm but risks replacing it with the eraser song. Ahhh! Where does it end?? We Are the Champions is cautiously suggested, but do not use it too much...it is a bit catchy.
If all else fails, look to the beacon of light, the ray of hope, the epitome of....okay, well, just look up Maim That Tune...prettypicture.com/maim...for all your ear-worm eradication needs.
