Linking misophonia and tinnitus: common and divergent neurobiological mechanismsShow others and affiliations
2026 (English)In: Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, ISSN 0149-7634, E-ISSN 1873-7528, Vol. 183, article id 106584Article, review/survey (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Misophonia and tinnitus are debilitating auditory disorders that impair social functioning and mental health. This is the first review paper examining their common and divergent neurobiological underpinnings, focusing on genetic, neural, and psychological factors. Both conditions show hereditary influences, neural activity imbalances across the auditory cortex, amygdala, and anterior cingulate cortex, and heightened autonomic responses, causing significant distress and cognitive deficits. Misophonia is triggered by specific external sounds, while tinnitus involves phantom sound perception. Neuroimaging studies reveal shared hyperconnectivity between the auditory cortex and limbic areas of the brain including the amygdala and hippocampus, driven by neuroplasticity. Here, we propose the Sensory-Salience Dysregulation Model, integrating aberrant sensory encoding, salience network overactivation, and autonomic dysregulation as a unified framework between these conditions. The present review discusses gaps in diagnostic standardization and/or genetic-environmental interactions, and highlights shared and distinct mechanisms underlying misophonia and tinnitus, aiming to advance knowledge for improving diagnostics and treatments for these conditions.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2026. Vol. 183, article id 106584
Keywords [en]
Auditory, Limbic system, Misophonia, Neuroscience, Tinnitus
National Category
Neurosciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-249643DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2026.106584ISI: 001681360900001PubMedID: 41616930Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105028864974OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-249643DiVA, id: diva2:2039892
2026-02-182026-02-182026-02-18Bibliographically approved