Misophonia – sounds that drive you crazy

Misophony – one of the younger diseasesób civilization has lived to see a particularóof the study. Researchers at Newcastle University have studied mózgi osób suffering from so-called. misophonia and showed that they are structured differently from mózgóin healthy waspsób.

Misophonia was classified in 2001, but until now there has been no in-depth research on this ailment, so the scientific community has been skeptical about recognizing this condition as a disease.

Experts, to study the affliction in detail, scanned mózgi 20 osób suffering from this condition and 22 osób healthy. During an MRI scan, specialists exposed people with misophonia to a wide range of soundsów. In the range of soundsów were the neutral ones, such as the sound of falling rain, ogólnie unpleasant sounds such as the. street noise and man-made sounds.

British researchers proved that mózgi osób sufferers of misophonia produce an excessive emotional response to certainóre sounds. In mózgach of these waspsób experts have observed changes in the frontal lobe, the part of the mózgu, która is responsible for linking the sensesów with emotions. On top of that, they demonstrated a particularólnie increased activity of the so-called. islands (insula) – anatomical structure in the human mózgu – During exposure of a sick person to annoying sounds.

In those suffering from misophonia mózg identifies sound e.g. mumbling or breathing with the state of emergency. This is followed by physical symptoms such as an accelerated heartbeat or the onset of excessive sweating. The reaction is aggression combined with anxiety states. Researchers believe the effects may be compounded by alcohol or caffeine.

Misophonia does not allow to function normally

– Anyone who eats chips in my presence drives me crazy. Just the rustling of a bag is enough to trigger a reaction. I feel a threat and have to react,” revealed Olana Tansley-Hancock, a 29-year-old suffering from misophonia. – It’s an immediate feeling of anger and I have to run away or stop the sounds. For many years I avoided places like the cinema. During my 30-minute commute, I had to leave the train 7-8 times to keep from going crazy. As a result, I stopped going to work because it took me more time to cry and strangle the attackóin panic than the work itself,” she added.

– People suffering from misophonia react with exaggerated aggression when they hear sounds that annoy them. It is not distaste, the dominant emotion is anger – explained Dr. Sukhbinder Kumar of the Insitute of Neuroscience at Newcastle University, one of the authors of theóIn the study.

It is unclear how common this condition is. An accurate way to diagnose this affliction has not yet been developed. It’s still a new disease. Researchers hope that with studies showing ródifferences in mówaspsób suffering from misophonia, they will be able to develop some treatment methods.

Researchers suggest that psychotherapy may be helpful in such cases. Certainly earplugs will also help.

The findings were published in „Current Biology”.