How do we “hear” songs in our head (not from an outside external source)?

Question

Last night I had a song “stuck in my head” for hours. It was there, palpable, as if there was a radio right next to me. Obviously that wasn’t the case, but how do we “hear” these memories?

In: 46

Answer 1

The truth is that this is an area of ongoing research. Scientists aren’t exactly sure how this works, but it is sort of like replaying how your brain responded to hearing them in the first place. But that is a gross simplification. When you hear a sound, parts of your brain react to it. When you listen to a song in your head, your brain might be making those reactions again.