Earworms (Can't Get That Song Out of My Head)

In addition to psychology, I also teach US Government.  I have a number of students who are learning English and I will utilize my own childhood experience of "School House Rock" on DVD as a subtitled visual tool to help them learn about various aspects of the government.  One pernicious song for me is "The Preamble."  You can view a copy on YouTube here.  The sad and bizarre point I am making is that when I show this, I cannot get that darn song out of my head for days.  In fact, as I sit here writing this, it has come back.  Grrr. 

As it turns out, there is a name for this phenomenon--it is called an "earworm." 
In March, 2008, Radiolab did a show examining and explaining why the experts thought they occurred (included Oliver Sacks and Diana Deutsch).  In June, 2008, Radiolab did a show on how people reduce these irritations.  I am pleased to know why they occur and some strategies for reducing them.

• Wikipedia Entry on Earworms
• WebMD Entry
• SFGate Article
• University of Cincinnati article on sources and possible explanations  for a business college article, it was awfully full of science

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Radiolab--Morality

Take yourself back to the ending episode of M*A*S*H and you'll recall the moral scenario--there are enemy troops all around us.  There are 30 of us on a bus and we need to be absolutely quiet in order to survive.  You have your child in your arms and s/he will not be quiet.  You have the choice--silence the baby (end its life) or allow everyone on the bus to get killed.  What do you do? 

This was the premise and beginning of the episode of Radiolab on Morality first broadcast back in 2007.  At the time, Jad had one, non-parent view.  What would happen after the birth of his first child?  Find out in a later episode short called, Killing Babies, Saving the World.

Radiolab consistently has the most curiosity-driven, quality-produced, entertaining and thought-provoking episodes I've ever come across.  Add the show to your podcast listening and catch up on previous broadcasts while driving. 

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Randomness AKA Stochasticity

Radiolab's most recent podcast/radio show has some great ideas for psychology teachers. First, those of us who teach statistics often need something to illustrate randomness. There is a brief interview with a Berkeley stats prof and a demo she uses. There is also an explanation of how the brain/people choose to include or exclude information when telling/sharing stories. The role of personal schemas plays heavily.

When I was driving to the coast today, I listened to the episode and reacted with great emotion--mainly laughing out loud and with visible disbelief at the stories. It was an amazing show and had wonderful stories. Even if you do not listen to the entire hour, do take time to listen to the first 20 minutes. You will not regret it. Laura Buxton didn't.

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Podcast-Radiolab

Whenever I have to drive, I make sure I have my iPod with me. While NPR is my only radio station, its programming is not always what I want to hear at the time. With that in mind, and going back to my childhood listening to CBS Radio Mystery Theater (back when AM radio was used for more than talk radio), I now listen to the best radio show around.

Robert Krulwich and Jad Abumrad are the hosts of each show, and they create a movie for the ears. In the words of the website, "Radiolab is a show about curiosity. Each episode is an investigation - a patchwork of people, sounds, stories all centered around one big idea." This means that topics will likely include psychological topics--memory, curiosity, deception, music, the brain, nostalgia, tickling, coincidence, morality, science, parasites (and effects on behavior). Every episode is seemingly a wonderful interdisciplinary show that feeds the mind.

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab
http://blogs.wnyc.org/radiolab/?utm_source=links&utm_medium=hp&utm_campaign=radiolab

One recent show was about the Obama Effect. The show was about people's perceptions related to their scores on intelligence tests (or some other term that was used). Results included differences in test scores when minorities had different beliefs about what the test was about. It really challenged the notion of the efficacy of intelligence tests.

In short, it is my favorite radio show and I highly recommend it. Please try one episode and you'll see. Enjoy!

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