Comparison of Spatial Processing Abilities of Normal Hearing Individuals with and Without Misophonia

Abstract

The study aimed to assess spatial processing in individuals with misophonia by comparing their Interaural Time Difference (ITD) and Interaural Level Difference (ILD) thresholds, as well as Virtual Acoustic Spatial Identification (VASI) scores, with those of individuals without misophonia. Additionally, it investigated any potential correlations between these behavioural thresholds and A-MISO questionnaire scores in misophonic. Forty individuals with normal hearing were included in this investigation, divided into two groups: 20 with misophonia and 20 without. Behavioural assessments included ITD and ILD threshold tests using a three-interval forced-choice method, and a VASI test using white band noise stimuli at eight specific azimuths. The results showed no significant differences between the experimental (misophonia) and control groups in terms of ITD and ILD thresholds, average reaction time, and angle-specific reaction times and errors. However, the experimental group demonstrated significantly lower VASI accuracy scores, particularly at angles R45 and L45, and higher angle-specific errors at these angles compared to the other VAS locations. Misophonic individuals exhibited higher accuracy errors in the left hemisphere. Although there was no significant difference in reaction time for hemispheric errors, within-group comparisons indicated more errors in hemispheric (right and left) than midline (front to back and back to front) areas. A significant correlation was observed between VASI score thresholds and A-MISO scores. However, no significant correlation was found between ITD, ILD, and average reaction times for VASI locations. The findings suggest that further research is needed to explore the relationship between misophonia and other auditory or cognitive processes.