Question 1

What is a hook swipe file?

Accepted Answer

A hook swipe file is a curated collection of high-performing opening lines for short-form video content. Creators use swipe files for inspiration when writing new hooks — not to copy them word-for-word, but to understand the patterns and formulas that drive viewer attention.

Question 2

What makes a hook go viral on TikTok?

Accepted Answer

Viral TikTok hooks typically do one of three things: create an information gap the viewer must watch to close, trigger an immediate emotional response, or speak directly to a specific problem the viewer already has. The VidCognition Hook Swipe File assigns each hook a Brain Score based on these three dimensions.

Question 3

What is a brain score for hooks?

Accepted Answer

The brain score is an estimated 0–100 rating of how strongly a hook is predicted to activate viewer attention based on brain science principles: curiosity gap (the drive to close an information gap), emotional salience (the amygdala's response to emotional stimuli), and cognitive accessibility (how easily the prefrontal cortex can process the hook in under 2 seconds).

The Hook Swipe File