9781422284964

“Getting songs stuck in your head. It is actually pretty common to get earworms.” Zeke shook his head. “I still think it sounds like I need to get some sort of medicine from the vet when you say that.” The librarian laughed and explained, “Apparently almost all of us, about 90 percent of all people, will get an earworm at least once this week. And you know what it’s like. A song gets stuck in your head when you aren’t even trying to think of the song. It repeats itself over and over again. But what do you notice about your earworm right now?” Zeke thought for a moment, looking off into space. “Well, it’s not the whole song. It’s just part of it.” “Is it the tune or the words?” William asked. “Right now, it’s the words.” “But,” the librarian broke in, “sometimes it’s just the tune.” “Why does it happen?” “No one knows for sure, William,” the librarian admitted. “I’ve read studies where scientists and psychologists are trying to figure out the reason. They have asked the general public to help them by identifying the songs or tunes that get stuck in their heads and the circumstance that led to it. But it is not well understood.” William wanted to know more. “But they must have some idea.” The librarian smiled at his insistence. “They have found some common triggers. For exam- ple, they know that recent and repeated exposure to a song or tune can lead to earworms.” “Yeah, like those annoying car and insurance commercials on TV,” Zeke pointed out. “That’s right.” The librarian continued, “There are word and people triggers, too. Sometimes just hearing a word can make a song pop into your head. For example, for me, whenever I hear the word “rainbow” I start thinking of …” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” William and Zeke said together. The librarian nodded. “Yes. And that can get pretty annoying. My grandmother always used to hum “Raindrops Keep Falling onMy Head” so now whenever I think of her or see her picture that song pops into my head, too. And sometimes it is there a while.” “This all makes sense,” said William. “Are there other triggers?” “Things like stress, or dreams, or being distracted and having your mind wander while you “That’s as much a mystery as the cause. Try thinking of another song. Some people say if you actually listen to the song or jingle you are hearing in your head it will go away. Distract yourself.” “Well, whatever you do, just don’t give it to me!” William said, half serious. “I don’t want that stuck in my head.” are trying to focus on something like homework can do it, too.” Zeke still had the song in his head. “Then what can you do?”

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