Abstract:
Earworms (involuntary musical imagery) are a universal cognitive phenomenon characterized by the spontaneous recall of short musical fragments. This study explored their frequency, triggers, and subjective perception in relation to musical engagement through a quantitative survey of 313 respondents. Results showed that earworms most often stem from recently heard music, highlighting the role of short-term memory and repeated exposure. They occur primarily during routine activities, suggesting that low cognitive load facilitates their emergence. A significant, though modest, correlation was found between higher levels of musical involvement and greater frequency of earworms. Popular music dominated, usually associated with positive or neutral attitude and emotions towards the music being listened to, and episodes most often ended spontaneously. The findings deepen understanding of earworm mechanisms and provide a foundation for further research on individual differences and coping strategies.