Why That One Song Gets Stuck In Your Head For Days

Earworms follow surprisingly predictable rules.

A single hook loops in your mind on repeat, and no amount of willpower seems to shut it off. Welcome to the earworm, the catchiest curse in music.

Songs that stick tend to share traits: a simple, repeating melody with just enough of an unexpected leap to keep your brain guessing.

Crucially, unfinished songs haunt us hardest. If you never hear the ending, your memory keeps rehearsing the loop, trying to close the gap.

The classic cure is to play the whole song through, or swap in a different tune entirely. Sometimes you have to trade one earworm for a gentler one.