Why does your brain keep playing songs you actually dislike?

Question

Accepted Answer

The Science of Earworms

When a song becomes trapped in your mind—often called an earworm—it usually happens because the brain perceives the melody as incomplete or repetitive. This triggers the Zeigarnik Effect, a psychological tendency to better remember uncompleted tasks or unresolved patterns.

Why Disliked Songs Stick

It seems counter-intuitive that a disliked song persists, but the mechanism is largely mechanical rather than emotional:

Cognitive Ease: Repetitive rhythms and simple melodic structures are easy for the brain to process, which creates a 'looping' state.
 Low Cognitive Load: These intrusive thoughts often trigger during moments of boredom or light tasks, allowing the brain to occupy itself with background noise.
 Emotional Triggers: Even if the song is disliked, it may be linked to a specific memory or social environment that the brain is currently attempting to reprocess.

How to Break the Cycle

To quiet the mental loop, engage in a high-focus activity like solving a puzzle, reading a difficult text, or listening to a 'cure' song—a track with a distinct, complex melody that overrides the simple repetitive loop.