We all get tunes stuck in our head...
we've talked about it on this show before. The most popular song that plagues us YMCA by the Village People.
But there's also a rare phenomena known as "music hallucinations" where songs are heard, from start to finish, as if they're really being played or sung by a choir. Composers Robert Schumann and Ludwig van Beethoven both had these hallucinations, and so does Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. They're usually associated with hearing impairments.
According to Reuters, about 1 in 10,000 people over the age of 65 have music hallucinations. And in a recent study, researchers found that the number one song people hear from start to finish is the religious hymn, "Abide By Me".
Dr. Nick Warner was in charge of the study, and he thinks this song is the most popular because it gives people a sense of comfort and hope. It talks about God not abandoning us when we're dying. It's heard a lot at funerals, which could be why it's a popular choice. Dr. Warner says people usually hallucinate about songs they've heard repeatedly.
Other favorite hallucination songs include the Christmas carols "Silent Night" and "Hark The Herald Angels Sing".
But Dr. Warner predicts that as baby boomers get older, this'll change. He says that in a few years, the most popular music hallucinations will probably be pop tunes by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.
But there's also a rare phenomena known as "music hallucinations" where songs are heard, from start to finish, as if they're really being played or sung by a choir. Composers Robert Schumann and Ludwig van Beethoven both had these hallucinations, and so does Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. They're usually associated with hearing impairments.
According to Reuters, about 1 in 10,000 people over the age of 65 have music hallucinations. And in a recent study, researchers found that the number one song people hear from start to finish is the religious hymn, "Abide By Me".
Dr. Nick Warner was in charge of the study, and he thinks this song is the most popular because it gives people a sense of comfort and hope. It talks about God not abandoning us when we're dying. It's heard a lot at funerals, which could be why it's a popular choice. Dr. Warner says people usually hallucinate about songs they've heard repeatedly.
Other favorite hallucination songs include the Christmas carols "Silent Night" and "Hark The Herald Angels Sing".
But Dr. Warner predicts that as baby boomers get older, this'll change. He says that in a few years, the most popular music hallucinations will probably be pop tunes by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.
