Why do we get words or small phrases stuck in our heads over and over and over and over?

Question

This is different than a song being stuck in your head. It could be a single word, or the ending of a sentence, etc. Why does it happen?

In: Other

Answer 1

Your brain uses different parts and different amounts of energy to process words versus syllables. Processing a phrase as simply words takes more energy, so when you repeat a word or phrase over and over your brain gets tired and begins to process it as syllables, which has rhythm and musicality!

Then it’s much like when you have a song stuck in your head.

Edit: here’s an example here: http://philomel.com/asa156th/mp3/Sound_Demo_1.mp3