Brainworms often operate automatically, below our level of awareness. Take notice of your repeating thoughts — are they positive affirmations, or the dreaded “worry loops” that lead to problems and burnout? It will take some homework, but you can create positive brainworms to replace negative thoughts. Earworms show us that our brain likes to put certain thoughts, words, and sounds on automatic replay. With awareness and effort, you can change the channel, stop negative mental loops, and install a positive “I can do this!” brainworm instead.

1. Col Mukteshwar Prasad(Retd),
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Contact -9007224278, e-mail –muktesh_prasad@yahoo.co.in
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Earworms, Brainworms, and Mental Information
Processing
Ref-Psychology Today Post of June 8, 2021 Reviewed by Abigail Fagan

2. Typical input from a very qualified and only son of relatively affluent
family
 Why do we dream about our deceased relatives?
 Is it some way of communication?
 I often dream about my dadu…when even my mother
didn’t
 I have been having death dream from childhood. I can’t
ever seem to figure out Why?
 I keep thinking about Ghosts?
 Also.. Whenever I dream about my own death ..someone
known to me dies… always.
 In corona times I keep thinking about Ghosts and death
 I am no good?
 I can not become Professor in JNU from where I have
done my Post graduation
 I would not be able to face students now as I am
interacting on social media only.
 Losing confidence on self
 Would I be able to manage my Father’s business?

3. Story of a Naval Officer
 Last I had interacted with him was somewhere in 2014 when
he was a class 12th student. Subsequently he joined Indian
Navy as an Officer. Very intelligent and above average in
studies.
 That time probably I had told him that he would find difficulty
in concentrating , analyzing and deciding on specially on
multiple input and controlling wandering minds . He has been
carrying these thoughts since beginning and till date. This had
detrimental effect on his confidence and self efficacy.
 After many years at mid night got a call that he was going for
Pilot Evaluation after due training but was scared as his mind
wandered looking at multiple instruments and goes blank
which is detrimental for any pilot.
 Has lost his confidence and had self doubt that he will never
pass the pilot test in spite of doing extremely well in training
and academic portion
 I did share my experience of coaching and this article itself to

4. Story :Constructive Brainworms as Narrated by his
Father
 We from middle class background who have seen hard life always
looked for security...were satisfied with meagre income and adjusted
in that..Never dreamt big and always kept our needs and wants under
check...So looked for a consistent secure job preferably with
pension..So that there in no ups and downs...
 See the case of my son Vineet, he had good merit in AIEEE and put
him IIIT Allahabad . He just passed out, as he was never keen in
Engineering. Joined IBM and then a few others,. did not like to work
on routine job 9-5, boring repeating job..He wanted to leave and do
something on his own..We kept pressurising him to continue...Lots of
heat and argument...He left anyway ..did some low end
entrepreneurship like renting , food etc...Eventually he got a break
and now for 5 years he is into something new, adventurous, has
made some good breaks.... Above all his Constructive
Brainworms of doing something different ,satisfying in spite of
family resistance
 So, aspirations depend on the family background, childhood
exposures, environment in which one grows... The generation gap
has been there and will always persist ..

5. Analysis of Two stories
 First two typical thought process of two separate individuals may be
considered as Maladaptive “Earworm” or Brainworm or “rumination,” or
“worry,” or “automatic negative thoughts (ANTs)”
 Because
 They are a sequence of mental actions or repeating thoughts (RTs).
 Repeating patterns of Words, Images, or Sounds
 It is a Long-term potentiation, or LTP,
 It is maladaptive repetitive thoughts (RTs) that cross into symptoms
of a mental disorder.
 They are Repetitive thoughts (RTs) that are self-critical and have
negative consequences.
 Repeated thought about one’s “bad luck,” or that they “can’t do it,” is
exhibits esteem and confidence lowering negative brainworms
 These unwanted brainworms can be and generally are debilitating.
 Third story is a typical thought process of CONSTRUCTIVE
“Earworm” or Brainworm or “rumination,” by selecting RIGHT MENTAL
LOOP
 Positive self-statements are RT’s known to counter negative
thinking and build confidence.
 Brainworms often operate automatically, below our level of awareness.
 With awareness and effort, you can change the channel, stop negative
mental loops, and install a positive “I can do this!” brainworm instead.

6. Key points
 Earworms, brainworms, and repeated thoughts are cyclical brain process
which appear to be common and spontaneous.
 Some repeating thoughts are maladaptive, because they can reinforce
negative or rigid thinking.
 Other mental loops are constructive, such as motivational phrases or mantras,
because they can enhance mood and confidence.
 Brain a “wet” information processor(mind computer) – can get stuck
like any computer and goes into repeating infamous mental loop called
“earworm”
 You can’t reboot or pull the plug like a computer!
 Earworm Alert! Commercials jingoism which we all are immersed in
today’s modern Ad may jingle out our mind and may happen to many of
us.
 The term “earworm” is not a parasite , but it simply refers to a catchy
musical phrase or song that runs continually through our mind:
 “A form of involuntary musical imagery which is out of control and can
become quite unpleasant and intrusive,” according to neuroscientist
Oliver Sacks.

7. Brainworms-Sequence of mental actions or Repeating
Thoughts
 (1) They refer to any sequence of mental actions or repeating thoughts
(RTs).
 Two types of repeating mental loop or cyclical mental activity
Earworms may be
 A.Acoustic memories that repeat until they fade away, or perhaps
are replaced with a different melody.
 Annoying, but it’s probably not dangerous.
 B. Memories which can loop spontaneously in the mind — echoing
and reverberating in our brain’s neural pathways may be
 Repeating patterns of
o Words,
o Images, or
o Sounds
 This Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is a natural process by which
synaptic connections become stronger with frequent activation.

8. Brainworms- mental loop (A kind of self-reinforcing, repeating neural
loop)
(2) A mental loop is a kind of self-reinforcing, repeating neural loop
 More it repeats, the more likely it is to continue.
 Hence earworms are very persistent, and mental habits are so
difficult to break.
 Maladaptive and Constructive Aspects of Brainworms
 If a repeating auditory hallucination is so loud or persistent and
interferes with a patient’s life, then that is clinically significant.
 If a patient repeats obsessive thoughts loud, it might be
pathological.
 That is not a typical mental loop
 But instead manic, repetitive thoughts (RTs) that cross into
symptoms of a mental disorder.
 In OCD(Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), a person’s fears and “worry
loops” (obsessions) trigger behaviors (compulsions) to reduce
anxiety.
 A brainworm by itself is not a symptom of OCD, unless it’s
triggered by worry and it significantly interferes with normal life.

9. Brainworms- mental loop (A kind of self-reinforcing, repeating neural
loop)….
 (2) A mental loop is a kind of …. OCD, unless …with normal
life.
 Repetitive thoughts (RTs) that are self-critical have negative
consequences.
 For example, repeating to yourself that you are helpless will contribute to anxious
and depressed feelings.
 Thinking about one’s “bad luck,” or that one “can’t do it,” is exhibiting esteem and
confidence lowering negative brainworms.
 These repeated counterproductive thoughts may be called
 “rumination,”
 “worry,” or
 “automatic negative thoughts (ANTs)”
 Similarly with PTSD, a patient’s flashbacks may consist of repeating,
intrusive traumatic memories.
 What ever be the trigger these unwanted brainworms can be debilitating.
 CBT and EMDR therapies are thought to be helpful to eliminate these intrusive
images.
 Though “brainworm” has been lumped to include several distinct RT

10. Brainworms- mental loop (A kind of self-reinforcing, repeating neural
loop)
 (3) Future research must explore
 Similarities or otherwise of neural pathways involved with “brainworms,” and
pathologies like
 OCD repetition,
 Post-traumatic intrusive memories,
 Depressive thinking, and
 Other RT phenomena affecting mental health.

11. Brainworms- Constructive Brainworms
 There are also constructive repeated thoughts that are useful.
 (4) A repeated motivational phrase could inspire you during an
important event or competition.
 Battle war cries of Regiments motivates soldiers to perform otherwise
impossible job of fighting with enemy
 Repeating a mantra to help clear the mind to meditate and relax.
 Positive self-statements are RT’s known to counter negative thinking and
build confidence.
 Musical earworm while working to keep humming along, or as a rhythmic cadence
during exercise.
 Our mind likes repetition, and we can intentionally use brainworms for
constructive purposes.
 You just need to select the right mental loop.

12. Brainworms- Conclusion
 Brainworms often operate automatically, below our level of awareness.
 Take notice of your repeating thoughts — are they positive affirmations, or
the dreaded “worry loops” that lead to problems and burnout?
 It will take some homework, but you can create positive brainworms to
replace negative thoughts.
 Earworms show us that our brain likes to put certain thoughts, words, and
sounds on automatic replay.
 With awareness and effort, you can change the channel, stop negative
mental loops, and install a positive “I can do this!” brainworm instead.
 References
 (1) Sacks, Oliver (2007). Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain. First
Vintage Books. ISBN 978-1-4000-3353-9.
 (2) Cooke SF, Bliss TV (July 2006). "Plasticity in the human central nervous
system". Brain. 129 (Pt 7): 1659–73. doi:10.1093/brain/awl082. PMID
16672292.
 (3) Negishi, Kazumasa; Sekiguchi, Takahiro (June 4, 2020). Sudzina,
Frantisek (ed.). "Individual traits that influence the frequency and emotional
characteristics of involuntary musical imagery: An experience sampling
study". PLOS ONE. 15 (6): e0234111. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0234111.

13. Reference
 (1) Sacks, Oliver (2007). Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain. First
Vintage Books. ISBN 978-1-4000-3353-9.
 (2) Cooke SF, Bliss TV (July 2006). "Plasticity in the human central nervous
system". Brain. 129 (Pt 7): 1659–73. doi:10.1093/brain/awl082. PMID
16672292.
 (3) Negishi, Kazumasa; Sekiguchi, Takahiro (June 4, 2020). Sudzina,
Frantisek (ed.). "Individual traits that influence the frequency and emotional
characteristics of involuntary musical imagery: An experience sampling
study". PLOS ONE. 15 (6): e0234111. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0234111.
ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 7272041. PMID 32497111