Advances in Understanding the Nature and Features of Misophonia

Misophonia is a newly studied disorder characterized by decreased tolerance and defensive motivational system responding to certain aversive sounds, typically repetitive oral (e.g., eating sounds) or nasal (e.g., breathing sounds) stimuli. Responses elicit significant psychological distress and impairment in functioning, and include acute increases in negative affect, physiological arousal, and overt behavior. There has been no consensus about the nature and features of misophonia. In this Research Topic, we will advance the field by featuring a multidisciplinary set of perspectives and scientific investigations elucidating the phenotypical and neurobiological features of misophonia. Potential authors will include individuals researching in the field of Misophonia, as well as individuals who have submitted/reviewed grant applications or participated in workshops facilitated by the Misophonia Research Fund over the last three years.

A major barrier to research and treatment of misophonia is the lack of a consensus definition of misophonia. This is, in part, due to the multi-disciplinary nature of misophonia and differing viewpoints about its primary features and diagnostic criteria. As such, in this Research Topic we will use a multi-disciplinary editorial team to showcase a diverse set of viewpoints and empirical findings that will advance insights about the symptomology and mechanisms of misophonia. In this Research Topic, we will advance the field by featuring a multidisciplinary set of perspectives and scientific investigations elucidating the phenotypical and neurobiological features of misophonia.

Contributors to the Research Topic will be encouraged to address the primary theme using a wide range of approaches. We will invite research using diverse methods (e.g., laboratory, naturalistic, self-report) and measures (e.g., neurobiological, behavioral, self-report) from principal investigators across disciplines (e.g., cognitive or affective neuroscience, psychiatry, audiology, psychology, occupational therapy). We aim to offer empirical findings and theoretical insights that advance an understanding of the phenotypic and neurobiological underpinnings of misophonia, in an effort to contextualize the definition of misophonia and inspire new research. For example, we anticipate receiving manuscripts addressing the characterization of misophonia using genetic, neuroscientific, psychometric, and phenotypic approaches. Our expectation is that this Research Topic makes a significant and lasting impact to the field, in part by establishing a definition of this disorder to be used across disciplines. The expert consensus definition and accompanying manuscripts will not only advance the field scientifically, it also will empower clinicians across disciplines worldwide to provide evidence-based clinical services to the many (up to 20%) individuals who report being significantly distressed and functionally impaired by misophonia.

Topic Editor M. Zachary Rosenthal received financial support from the Misophonia Research Fund. Dr. Rosenthal is a Scientific Advisor for and owns common shares of The Real Odin, and is a Scientific Advisor for BehaVR. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.