Is the same song playing in your mind again and again? Know what is earworm and 5 easy scientific ways to prevent it:

News India Live, Digital Desk: Often we listen to a song on the radio or social media reel and then the same tune keeps echoing in our mind the whole day. We cannot stop him even if we want to. in medical science it ‘Involuntary Musical Imagery’ (INMI) or in common language ‘Earworm’ It is said. According to research, 98% of the people in the world face this condition at some point in their life.

Why do songs get stuck in your mind? (Why does it happen?)

Our brain is fond of remembering certain patterns. When we listen to a song that:

Be very simple and repetitive.

Whose rhythm is very fast or catchy.

Which is associated with a particular emotion or memory.

…So our brain puts it in a ‘mental loop’. This problem increases further due to stress or sitting idle.

5 surefire ways to get rid of earworms (How to stop it)

Listen to the full song: Often a song gets stuck in the mind because our brain leaves it incomplete (which is called the ‘Zeigarnik effect’). Listening to a song completely from beginning to end gives ‘closure’ to the brain and it stops repeating it.

Chew gum: This may sound strange, but research says that chewing gum engages our jaw muscles, which affects the brain’s ability to repeat the melody of a song.

Challenge the mind: Solve a difficult Sudoku or read a serious book. When you engage your mind in something complex, it breaks that loop of music.

Listen to another song: To replace the old song, listen to a different, completely different song (like the national anthem or a hymn). It works like a ‘cover’ song.

Do not try to forcefully stop: The more you try to suppress the song, the louder it will play. Ignore this as a normal process, it will calm down on its own.

Is this a sign of some mental illness?

In most cases, earworms are completely normal. But, if a tune doesn’t come out of your head for weeks and starts affecting your sleep or work, then it OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) Or it may be a sign of anxiety. In such a situation, it is better to take expert advice.