Earthworms or earworms?

Music activates some of the broadest and most diverse networks of the brain. Research also confirms most everyone’s brain has experienced “stuck song syndrome” or what’s scientifically referred to as an “earworm.”

Need examples? Think sitcom theme songs like Cheers “where everyone knows your name,” a catchy song such as Happy or a TV commercial. If you like the tune, you can hum along and enjoy.  

If not, you may feel the song has somehow hijacked your consciousness and the more you try to get the melody out of your head, the more distressed you feel. Maybe you’ve even googled something like “how to get stuck song to stop?” Sound familiar?

Fortunately, if you have an annoying song stuck in your head, neuroscientists have developed a few strategies that may help eliminate annoying earworms. You may also be pleased to learn that extensive research conducted by UC Davis suggests these experiences are more than a passing nuisance because they play an important role in the formation of memories and could be the basis for improved memory loss therapies. 

Is that music to your ears? You might also be whistling a different tune to learn that researchers intend to develop nonpharmaceutical, music-based interventions to help people suffering from dementia and other neurological disorders to better remember events, people and daily tasks. Sounds like a great idea to us! 

US DAVIS EARWORM RESEARCH BENEFITS MEMORY