What you are describing is a phenomenon known as "earworms" or "stuck song syndrome" when it comes to songs, and "semantic satiation" when it comes to words. Let's explore both of these aspects:
- Earworms or Stuck Song Syndrome: When you hear a catchy tune or a song that you like, it can get "stuck" in your head and play on a loop. This is a common experience, and scientists believe that it happens because the brain gets stuck in a repeating pattern. The repetition might be triggered by various factors, such as:
- Emotion: Emotionally significant or personally meaningful songs are more likely to get stuck in your head because they engage the brain on a deeper level.
- Simplicity: Catchy tunes or songs with repetitive patterns are more likely to get stuck in your head because the brain finds it easier to repeat and remember them.
- Recent Exposure: If you recently heard the song, it is more likely to get stuck in your head as it's still fresh in your memory.
- Triggers: Certain events, words, or sensory cues can trigger the recurrence of the song in your mind.
- Semantic Satiation: Semantic satiation is a psychological phenomenon where repetition of a word or phrase leads to temporary loss of its meaning. When you repeatedly think about or say a word, it can start to feel strange or unfamiliar. This is because the neural representation of the word in your brain becomes less activated with each repetition, making it feel like you have temporarily "forgotten" the meaning.
However, you mention that you feel the need to repeat words until you comprehend or process them correctly, even if you already know you've done it. This could be related to the following factors:
- Perfectionism: Some individuals have a perfectionist tendency, and they might feel the need to ensure they have fully grasped or understood something before moving on, even if they have already comprehended it correctly.
- Anxiety: Anxiety or uncertainty can lead to a repetitive thought pattern as a way of seeking reassurance or clarity.
If this repetition becomes distressing or interferes with your daily life, it might be beneficial to explore this further with a mental health professional. They can help you understand the underlying reasons and provide strategies to manage and reduce this repetitive thought process if necessary.