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When we listen to a song we know, we're constantly hearing forward in time, anticipating the next note.
當我們聽著一首熟悉的歌，我們經常聽到比當下正播放的要更后面，預料著下一個音符。
It's hard for us to think about one particular musical moment in isolation.
單單想著一個特定的音樂橋段對我們來說是困難的。
If we want to think about the pitch of the word "you" in "Happy Birthday,"
假使我們要去想 "you" 這個字在生日快樂歌里的音調，
we have to start back at "Happy," and sing through until we get to "you."
我們必須回到"Happy"來開始一直唱下去，直到我們唱到"you"。
In this way, a tune is sort of like a habit.
這樣來說曲調就有一點像是一個習慣。
Just like once you start tying your shoe,
就好像是打從你開始綁鞋帶
you're on automatic until you tighten the bow, once a tune is suggested because,
直到你綁好蝴蝶節前是不假思索的，一但想到某個調子，
for example, someone says, "my umbrella,"
例如因為某人說了“My unbrella”
we have to play through until it reaches a natural stopping point, "ella, ella, ella."
我們就得在腦中播放歌曲，直到唱到了原本的停頓處。
But this is largely speculation.
不過這充其量也只是一個猜測。
The basic fact remains we don't know exactly why we're susceptible to earworms.
事實上我們仍未確切地明白為什么我們會這么容易受到耳朵蟲的影響。
But understanding them better could give us important clues to the workings of the human brain.
但是更清楚認識它們可以給我們有關人類大腦運作的重要線索。
Maybe the next time we're plagued by a Taylor Swift tune that just won't go away,
也許下回我們受擾于盤踞于腦內久久不去的泰勒歌曲，
we'll use it as the starting point for a scientific odyssey that will unlock important mysteries about basic cognition.
我們會利用它來當一段科學旅程的開端，那將會解開基本認知的重大迷團。
And if not, well, we can just shake it off.
假若不行，我們就忘了它吧。
