Hidden Brain

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Why did that song get stuck in your head?

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Why did that song get stuck in your head?

Plus, a dance dance evolution

Mar 30, 2022
Share this post

Why did that song get stuck in your head?

news.hiddenbrain.org

“"People would be better off if they were more honest with themselves about the functions that their beliefs serve.” - Phil Tetlock.

BRAIN WAVES (the song and dance edition)

  • Tuned in. We have a confession to make. We’re BIG Taylor Swift fans. And big ABBA fans. And big fans of The Beatles (who isn’t?). All three artists were part of a new study on musical earworms. Songs that get stuck in your head are great at first. But after a little while, they can become annoying. Unfortunately, according to Callula Killingly and colleagues, we may have ourselves to blame. Previous research had theorized that songs with certain characteristics — such as simpler or faster songs — were more likely to get stuck in your head. This study adds another factor to the mix: it finds that when you sing along with a song, you’re actively participating in the creation of the earworm itself. The repetition cements the song in your brain. Perhaps that’s why “I Knew You Were Trouble” by T-Swift has nearly half a billion views. (Personally, we prefer the best unofficial remix of all time).

  • Hop to it. Why is dance a thing? Think about it. Like singing or painting, it serves no real biological purpose. Not so fast. A paper from last year looks at the evolutionary role of dance. The authors theorize that dance could have started as a way of social communication, like “I want to be your mate,” or “give me that piece of beaver meat.” And while dance has evolved in diverse ways, that main function — transmitting information to others — has remained the same across the globe. Other recent studies have focused on the relationship between dance and cognition, especially among the elderly, autistic individuals, and folks with Parkinson’s disease. 

  • Do you ever stop to wonder if the way you see the world is how the world really is? Economist Abhijit Banerjee has spent a lifetime asking himself this question. His answer: Our worldviews often don’t reflect reality. The only way to get more accurate is to think like a scientist — even when you’re not looking through a microscope.

ON THE HIDDEN BRAIN PODCAST

March 28: When disaster strikes, we want to know: could something have been done to avoid it? Did anyone see this coming? This week, we explore the psychology of warnings. Plus, why ordinary people can sometimes do a better job of predicting the future than the so-called experts. 

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ON THE MY UNSUNG HERO PODCAST

March 29: When Renée’s boyfriend loses his passport at the airport, she can tell he’s about to take his anger out on her. But then, a kind man appears and defuses the situation.

March 31: Ritch's friend Holly can tell that his humor isn't landing the way he intends, so she pulls him aside. 

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify

Don’t forget to send us the story of your unsung hero! Record a voice memo on your phone and email it to myunsunghero@hiddenbrain.org.

MIND GAMES

What has a head and a tail but no body?

LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

You measure my life in hours and I serve you by expiring. I’m quick when I’m thin and slow when I’m fat. The wind is my enemy. What am I?

The answer: A candle

FROM THE TWITTERATI…

Twitter avatar for @YesCT
Cathy YesCT @YesCT
This @HiddenBrain episode was really inspiring! hiddenbrain.org/podcast/how-to… Thanks @EricaChenoweth for the info on the effectiveness of collective resistance, noncooperation, strikes, stay-at-homes, etc ❤️
hiddenbrain.orgHow to Change the World | Hidden Brain MediaDoes power truly flow from the barrel of a gun? Pop culture and conventional history often teach us that violence is the most effective way to produce change. But is that common assumption actually true? Political scientist Erica Chenoweth, who has studied more than 100 years of revolutions and insu…
2:20 AM ∙ Mar 22, 2022
Twitter avatar for @GRozumek
Gabbi Rozumek @GRozumek
Listening to back to back @HiddenBrain episodes got me through all my experiments today — I love listening along and opening my mind to new thoughts 💭
2:24 AM ∙ Mar 23, 2022
Twitter avatar for @tweetessandro
Alessandro Battisti @tweetessandro
Love this ⁦@HiddenBrain⁩ episode on conversation styles. I use these insights every day still
podcasts.apple.com‎Hidden Brain: Mind Reading 2.0: Why Conversations Go Wrong on Apple Podcasts‎Show Hidden Brain, Ep Mind Reading 2.0: Why Conversations Go Wrong - Feb 28, 2022
7:31 PM ∙ Mar 18, 2022
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A MOMENT OF JOY

Watch an art restorer bring this painting back to life. Honestly, the entire Reddit thread “oddly satisfying” is…strangely enjoyable. 

Have an idea for Hidden Brain? A story you want to share with us? Send an email to ideas@hiddenbrain.org. And if you’d like to support our work, you can do so here. Listen to us on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music or your favorite podcast platform.

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Why did that song get stuck in your head?

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