Involuntary musical imagery repetition (IMIR), colloquially known as “earworms,” is a form of musical imagery that arises involuntarily and repeatedly in the mind. A growing number of studies, based on retrospective reports, suggest that IMIR experiences are associated with certain musical features, such as fast tempo and the presence of lyrics, and with individual differences in music training and engagement. However, research to date has not directly assessed the effect of such musical features on IMIR and findings about individual differences in music training and engagement are mixed. Using a cross-sectional design (Study 1, n = 263), we examined IMIR content in terms of tempo (fast, slow) and presence of lyrics (instrumental, vocal), and IMIR characteristics (frequency, duration of episode and section) in relation to 1) the musical content (tempo and lyrics) individuals most commonly expose themselves to (music-listening habits), and 2) music training and engagement. We also used an experimental design (Study 2, n = 80) to test the effects of tempo (fast or slow) and the presence of lyrics (instrumental or vocal) on IMIR retrieval and duration. Results from Study 1 showed that the content of music that individuals are typically exposed to with regard to tempo and lyrics predicted and resembled their IMIR content, and that music engagement, but not music training, predicted IMIR frequency. Music training was, however, shown to predict the duration of IMIR episodes. In the experiment (Study 2), tempo did not predict IMIR retrieval, but the presence of lyrics influenced IMIR duration. Taken together, our findings suggest that IMIR is an idiosyncratic experience primed by the music-listening habits and music engagement of the individual.

中文翻译：

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非自愿音乐意象重复 (IMIR) 体验的特质

不自觉的音乐意象重复 (IMIR)，俗称“耳虫”，是一种在脑海中不由自主地反复出现的音乐意象。越来越多的基于回顾性报告的研究表明，IMIR 体验与某些音乐特征相关，例如快节奏和歌词的存在，以及音乐训练和参与方面的个体差异。然而，迄今为止的研究尚未直接评估此类音乐特征对 IMIR 的影响，关于音乐训练和参与方面的个体差异的研究结果喜忧参半。使用横截面设计（研究 1，n = 263），我们检查了 IMIR 内容的节奏（快、慢）和歌词的存在（器乐、声乐）和 IMIR 特征（频率、集和部分的持续时间）与 1）个人最常接触的音乐内容（节奏和歌词）（音乐聆听习惯），以及 2）音乐培训和参与。我们还使用实验设计（研究 2，n = 80）来测试节奏（快或慢）和歌词（器乐或声乐）的存在对 IMIR 检索和持续时间的影响。研究 1 的结果表明，个人通常在节奏和歌词方面接触到的音乐内容预测并类似于他们的 IMIR 内容，而音乐参与而非音乐训练可以预测 IMIR 频率。然而，音乐训练被证明可以预测 IMIR 剧集的持续时间。在实验（研究 2）中，节奏并不能预测 IMIR 检索，但歌词的存在会影响 IMIR 持续时间。综合起来，