Earworms, Brainworms, and Mental Information Processing

Source: Shutterstock image #98838482 (by mypokcik), Licensed for use.

This time, we’re taking a break from digital technology to look at a “wet” information processor – your brain. What happens when your mind-computer gets stuck? You can’t exactly reboot or pull the plug! One type of repeating mental loop is the infamous “earworm.”

Earworm Alert! You hear that commercial in the morning and for the rest of the day you can’t get that silly jingle out of your mind. Don’t worry — it happens to many of us! The term “earworm” may sound like a parasite, but it simply refers to a catchy musical phrase or song that runs continually through your mind: “A form of involuntary musical imagery which is out of control and can become quite unpleasant and intrusive,” according to neuroscientist Oliver Sacks. A more appropriate term may be “brainworm” to indicate that mental loops are not necessarily musical.(1) They refer to any sequence of mental actions or repeating thoughts (RTs).

Earworms are acoustic memories that repeat until they fade away, or perhaps are replaced with a different melody. Annoying, but it’s probably not dangerous. This is just one type of repeating mental loop or cyclical mental activity. Repeating patterns of words, images, or sounds can loop spontaneously in the mind — echoing and reverberating in our brain’s neural pathways.

Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is a natural process by which synaptic connections become stronger with frequent activation.(2) A mental loop is a kind of self-reinforcing, repeating neural loop — the more it repeats, the more likely it is to continue. No wonder earworms are so persistent, and mental habits are so difficult to break.

Maladaptive and Constructive Aspects of Brainworms

If a repeating auditory hallucination is so loud or persistent it interferes with a patient’s life, then that is clinically significant. If a patient repeats obsessive thoughts out loud, it might be pathological. (For example, when Leonardo DiCaprio played Howard Hughes on film, he kept repeating the phrase: “Way of the Future. Way of the Future.”) That is not a typical mental loop, but instead manic, repetitive thoughts (RTs) that cross into symptoms of a mental disorder.

With OCD, a patient’s fears and “worry loops” (obsessions) trigger behaviors (compulsions) to reduce anxiety. A brainworm by itself is not a symptom of OCD, unless it’s triggered by worry and it significantly interferes with normal life.

Repetitive thoughts (RTs) that are self-critical have negative consequences. For example, repeating to yourself that you are unlovable or helpless will contribute to anxious and depressed feelings. Anyone who thinks repeatedly about their “bad luck,” or that they “can’t do it,” is exhibiting esteem and confidence lowering negative brainworms. Call these repeated thoughts “rumination,” “worry,” or “automatic negative thoughts (ANTs)” — whatever you call them, they are counterproductive.

Similarly with PTSD, a patient’s flashbacks may consist of repeating, intrusive traumatic memories. While these may be triggered by a variety of factors, these unwanted brainworms can be debilitating. CBT and EMDR therapies are thought to be helpful to eliminate these intrusive images.

So far, the term “brainworm” has been used to lump together several distinct RT phenomena. Are these all a function of similar brain areas? There is evidence, for example, that obsessive thoughts reported by OCD patients are associated with their experiences of auditory earworms.(3) Future research must explore if similar neural pathways are involved with “brainworms,” and how these compare across pathologies such as OCD repetition, post-traumatic intrusive memories, depressive thinking, and other RT phenomena affecting mental health.

Constructive Brainworms? There are also constructive repeated thoughts that are useful.(4) A repeated motivational phrase could inspire you during an important event or competition. Another example is repeating a mantra to help clear the mind to meditate and relax. Positive self-statements are RT’s known to counter negative thinking and build confidence. You can playback a musical earworm while working to keep humming along, or as a rhythmic cadence during exercise. Thus your mind likes repetition, and we can intentionally use brainworms for constructive purposes. You just need to select the right mental loop.

Brainworms often operate automatically, below our level of awareness. Take notice of your repeating thoughts — are they positive affirmations, or the dreaded “worry loops” that lead to problems and burnout? It will take some homework, but you can create positive brainworms to replace negative thoughts. Earworms show us that our brain likes to put certain thoughts, words, and sounds on automatic replay. With awareness and effort, you can change the channel, stop negative mental loops, and install a positive “I can do this!” brainworm instead.