Some people get so deeply into a song that they’ll put it on repeat. What’s their motivation? Science is interested in this.
First, the brain loves repetition. If the song is JUST right, it encourages big sloshes of dopamine, the body’s “feel good” hormone, into your system. Putting it on repeat and you get more dopamine.
Second, music creates emotion. Putting it on repeat gives you more time to process that.
Third, some people will listen to a song over and over again because it consciously or unconsciously gives them a feeling of control. This is especially important with certain neurodivergent conditions.
And finally, songs are associated with a time and place. Putting it on repeat gives the brain a chance to process what’s going on at the moment and how to store it as a memory.
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