Ongoing History Daily: What makes an earworm stick in your head? (Part 3)

An earworm—an annoying short loop of a song in your head that just won’t stop—can be very annoying. In some people, earworms can even be debilitating and make life extremely difficult. How can you get that music to shut off?

There are several suggested treatments. First, locate the song in the real world and listen to it all the way through. This may give your brain the closure that it craves. Another option is to distract yourself with a mentally demanding task, such as a Sudoku puzzle or some brain-teasing activity. You can also sing or play another song. That might override the earworm. Finally—and I know this sounds weird—chew some gum. This simple act disrupts the brain’s ability to process rhythm.

Good luck!