Misophonia: Analysis of the neuroanatomic patterns at the basis of psychiatric symptoms and changes of the orthosympathetic/ parasympathetic balance

• DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.827998
• Publication Date: 2022-08-11T14:36:11Z
• Authors: Elena Grossini; Alessandro Stecco; Carla Gramaglia; Daniel De Zanet; Roberto Cantello; Benedetta Gori; Davide Negroni; Danila Azzolina; Daniela Ferrante; Alessandro Feggi; Alessandro Carriero; Patrizia Zeppegno
• Keywords: Ventromedial prefrontal cortex

Background/Aim Misophonia is a disorder characterized by reduced tolerance to specific sounds or stimuli known as “triggers,” which tend evoke negative emotional, physiological, and behavioral responses. In this study, we aimed better characterize participants with misophonia through the evaluation of response autonomic nervous system “trigger sounds,” psychometric assessment, analysis neurological pathways. Materials methods Participants included 11 adults presenting misophonic disturbance 44 sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). Following recently proposed diagnostic criteria, listened six sounds” “general annoyance” sound (baby crying) during series physiological tests. The effects were examined functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), heart rate variability (HRV), galvanic skin conductance (GSC). fMRI was performed on 3T Scanner. HRV obtained electrocardiogram, whereas GSC positioning silver-chloride electrodes fingers. Furthermore, assessment questionnaires focused misophonia, psychopathology, resilience, anger, motivation. Results showed patterns increased sympathetic activation in trigger general annoyance sound, low frequency (LF) component HRV, index, number significant over threshold, where amplitude/phasic higher. provided evidence for temporal cortex, limbic area, ventromedial prefrontal/premotor/cingulate cerebellum misophonia. addition, seemed differentiate construct independent from psychopathology. Conclusion These results suggest auditory-insula-limbic pathway at basis observed sounds.” Further studies should disentangle complex issue whether represents new clinical non-pathological condition. could help build tests recognize classify disorder. relevance question goes beyond purely theoretical issues, first case, receive diagnosis targeted treatment, while second they not.