NORTH-East researchers may have uncovered the secret to why you just can’t get some songs out of your head.

The study by Dr Kelly Jakubowski at Durham University may have some answers as to why some songs are so catchy.

It has shown that songs that get stuck in your head are usually faster, with a fairly generic and easy-to-remember melody but with some unique intervals such as leaps or repetitions that set it apart.

Some of the catchiest songs in the study include Bad Romance by Lady Gaga, Don’t Stop Believing by Journey and Can’t Get You Out Of My Head by Kylie Minogue.

Dr Jakubowski said: “Our findings show that you can to some extent predict which songs are going to get stuck in people’s heads based on the song’s melodic content. This could help aspiring song-writers or advertisers write a jingle everyone will remember for days or months afterwards."

Studies of earworms can help to understand how brain networks, which are involved in perception, emotions, memory and spontaneous thoughts, behave in different people.

Ninety per cent of people get a song stuck in our heads playing on an endless loop at least once a week, usually when the brain is not doing much such as when in the shower or doing chores.

The study, published in the academic journal Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts, was conducted by researchers based at Durham University, Goldsmiths, University of London and the University of Tübingen in Germany with funding from the Leverhulme Trust.

Most frequently named earworms in study:

1. Bad Romance Lady Gaga

2. Can’t Get You Out Of My Head Kylie Minogue

3. Don’t Stop Believing Journey

4. Somebody That I Used To Know Gotye

5. Moves Like Jagger Maroon 5

6. California Gurls Katy Perry

7. Bohemian Rhapsody Queen

8. Alejandro Lady Gaga

9. Poker Face Lady Gaga