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Ramster5678
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Why do people get songs "stuck" in their heads?
Why do we get songs "stuck" in our heads?
Why do we get songs "stuck" in our heads?
Dr. Griffiths discovered a network of regions in the brain that became more active as the hallucinations became more intense. "What strikes me is that you see a very similar pattern in normal people who are listening to music," he said.
The main difference is that musical hallucinations don't activate the primary auditory cortex, the first stop for sound in the brain. When Dr. Griffith's subjects hallucinated, they used only the parts of the brain that are responsible for turning simple sounds into complex music.
These music-processing regions may be continually looking for signals in the brain that they can interpret, Dr. Griffiths suggested. When no sound is coming from the ears, the brain may still generate occasional, random impulses that the music-processing regions interpret as sound. They then try to match these impulses to memories of music, turning a few notes into a familiar melody.
For most people, these spontaneous signals may produce nothing more than a song that is hard to get out of the head. But the constant stream of information coming in from the ears suppresses the false music.
I think it's quite plausible that musical hallucinations could issue largely from a lack of aural stimulation. I once experienced a musical hallucination in a sensory deprivation chamber, and others who try out sensory deprivation sometimes/often report hallucinations as well, and not just of the musical kind. Something about being deprived of sensory input tends to cause sensory hallucinations of various sorts. It may be that some sort of seizure is involved as well, but that doesn't preclude sensory deprivation from entering into the causal story.zoobyshoe said:I really disagree with the second article which suggests this is always happening anyway in all people but is usually overpowered by external imput. Musical hallucinations don't result from deafness. They tend to occur in hard of hearing people because old people are both prone to bad hearing and the mini-strokes that cause the musical seizures. If they resulted from the deafness, they would arise gradually with the deafness, but they don't. They start all at once, quite suddenly.
I don't think there's any particular link either-- but the article does mention a general neural mechanism that might be similar or common between them. The "random brain signal" idea could account for why songs will sometimes jump into one's mind for no apparent reason. Explaining why the song persists requires something more, however-- e.g. perhaps the 'random' brain signals are actually fairly regular while songs are in the head, or (probably more likely) perhaps there is some kind of feedback mechanism in the relevant neural circuit that promotes its own repetitive firing.zoobyshoe said:I also don't think there is any particular link between "earworms" and musical hallucinations. They seem to coincide in some people, but not others. That is: some people hallucinate the same songs over and over but others have a huge repertoire.
I see your reasoning here, and there's nothing wrong with it. However, from the stories about it by Sacks we learn that mini-stroke and resultant seizures were the cause in the two elderly women he treated. They had both been hard of hearing for quite some time before the music started. The sensory-deprivation tank experiences would suggest the music would follow almost right behind the deafness and keep pace with it: an hour or so of deprivation, and the hallucinations start.hypnagogue said:Something about being deprived of sensory input tends to cause sensory hallucinations of various sorts. It may be that some sort of seizure is involved as well, but that doesn't preclude sensory deprivation from entering into the causal story.
I don't think deprivation in the relevant sensory channel is the only relevant aspect. For instance, in a sensory deprivation chamber one is robbed of most normal sensory input. For the deaf, getting regular visual, tactile etc. input might interfere with the hallucinatory process. Mindset is another factor-- at least in my experience with sensory deprivation, I was purposely trying to take a kind of meditative mindset and keep my mind as clear as possible. Had I been chatting away with myself and worrying about daily concerns, I doubt I would have had my musical hallucination. And there are undoubtedly other factors that must be accounted for as potentially interfering with or enhancing the musical hallucinations. So I don't think a simple linear relationship between degree of deafness and experience of musical hallucination necessarily follows.zoobyshoe said:I see your reasoning here, and there's nothing wrong with it. However, from the stories about it by Sacks we learn that mini-stroke and resultant seizures were the cause in the two elderly women he treated. They had both been hard of hearing for quite some time before the music started. The sensory-deprivation tank experiences would suggest the music would follow almost right behind the deafness and keep pace with it: an hour or so of deprivation, and the hallucinations start.
The people in these articles experience these things all the time, or, at least, at any time, not just during periods of deprivation. No amount of trying to distract themselves stops the music. The fact you could have stopped it in the tank by engaging in mental chatter demonstrates it is caused by something other than deprivation in the case of these patients.hypnagogue said:And there are undoubtedly other factors that must be accounted for as potentially interfering with or enhancing the musical hallucinations. So I don't think a simple linear relationship between degree of deafness and experience of musical hallucination necessarily follows.
cotarded said:http://www.postgazette.com/healthscience/19990802lsd1.asp
That's a cool article.
You remember what chapter? I don't recall mention of L-Dopa being associated with hearing music.The legendary Oliver Sacks wrote about this (in "man who mistook his wife for a hat") in people who received too much l-dopa during the initiation of parkinson's treatment before they could find the right dose; some heard music from high school all day long, as well as exhibiting external behaviors similar to tourettes.
You remember what chapter? I don't recall mention of L-Dopa being associated with hearing music.
There are a few reasons why certain songs get stuck in our heads. One reason is that the song has a catchy melody or hook that is easily remembered and repeated. Another reason is that our brains tend to gravitate towards patterns and repetition, so if a song has a repetitive chorus or melody, it can get stuck in our heads. Additionally, songs that we have heard frequently or recently are more likely to get stuck in our heads due to the increased neural connections associated with those songs.
Yes, listening to a song repeatedly can increase the chances of it getting stuck in our heads. This is because our brains are more likely to remember and recall things that we have recently or frequently heard. Additionally, the more we listen to a song, the more familiar it becomes, making it easier for our brains to remember and replay it.
The length of time a song gets stuck in our heads can vary, but there are a few factors that can contribute to a song being stuck for days. One reason is that the song may have a particularly catchy or memorable melody that is hard for our brains to let go of. Additionally, if we are feeling stressed or anxious, our brains may use the repetitive nature of a catchy song as a way to distract us from our worries, causing it to stay stuck in our heads for longer.
While there is no guaranteed way to get a song unstuck from our heads, there are a few techniques that may help. One method is to listen to the song in its entirety, as our brains may be trying to remember the whole song and get stuck on a particular part. Another technique is to distract ourselves with a different activity or listen to a different song to replace the one that is stuck. Some people also find that singing or humming the song out loud can help to release it from their minds.
In most cases, getting a song stuck in our heads is a normal and harmless occurrence. However, in rare cases, it can be a symptom of a condition called "earworms" or "musical hallucinations." This is when a person experiences intrusive and persistent musical imagery that can be distressing and interfere with daily life. If you are constantly getting songs stuck in your head and it is causing you distress, it is best to consult a doctor or mental health professional for further evaluation and treatment.