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Name That Tune! Why The Brain Remembers Songs : Short Wave Why do some songs can stick with us for a long time, even when other memories start to fade? Science reporter (and former Short Wave intern) Rasha Aridi explains the neuroscience behind that surprising moment of, "Wow, how do I still remember that song?!" (Encore)

Short Wave

Name That Tune! Why The Brain Remembers Songs

Name That Tune! Why The Brain Remembers Songs

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The brain processes music in several places, making it easier for some people to remember songs they learned a long time ago. Getty Images hide caption

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The brain processes music in several places, making it easier for some people to remember songs they learned a long time ago.

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Why do some songs can stick with us for a long time, even when other memories start to fade? Science reporter (and former Short Wave intern) Rasha Aridi explains the neuroscience behind that surprising moment of, "Wow, how do I still remember that song?!" (Encore)

What song crowds out your brain space? Let us know at shortwave@npr.org.

This episode was produced by Brit Hanson, edited by Gisele Grayson and Viet Le, and fact-checked by Berly McCoy.