Why do we get snippets of songs stuck in our heads? And are earworms more common with OCD?

By Timothy Byron, Lecturer in Psychology, University of Wollongong

You’re reading a report and trying to concentrate. The room is silent. But despite your best efforts to focus, a little snatch of melody – an “earworm” – keeps circling inside your head.

Research suggests most people get earworms regularly – and they’re more common among people who listen to a lot of music. One Finnish study found more than 90% of people report experiencing earworms at least weekly. About 60% of people experienced them daily.

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