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Contrary to the belief that it’s only the most obnoxious or annoying songs that get stuck in our heads, Western Washington University psychology professor Ira Hyman has found that it’s the songs people know and like that most often become intrusive.

In research conducted with his students at Western, Hyman also found that these intrusive songs, or “earworms,” often are triggered by environmental cues – such as hearing words that remind us of the song’s lyrics – and were most likely heard recently. In addition, if a song continues to play in someone’s head immediately after he or she stops listening to it, the song is likely to disappear but then return within 24 hours.

“It’s interesting how these songs can go away but then keep coming back,” Hyman said.