The Sound of Munching

Some people suffer from misophonia. They become excessively irritated, by sounds made by other people eating and drinking. A study, using brain scans, at Newcastle University has shown that people with misophonia have a stronger than usual connectivity between that part of their brain processing sound and an area of the prefrontal cortex, controlling the muscles of the mouth and throat (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/may/24/research-reveals-why-some-find-the-sound-of-others-eating-so-irritating). The Newcastle study showed that, when people with misophonia, were played the 'trigger sound' (of people munching) their brain region controlling mouth and throat movement was overactivated. This was compared to 'controls' (subjects without misophonia). One of the neuroscientists, suggests the 'trigger sound' activates the motor area, even though the person is only listening to it. It causes irritation because it makes that person feel the sounds are intrusive. This might be an example of a brain mirror neuron system. Mirror neurons fire, when a person makes an action. They also fire when they see others make a particular response. I'm not sure if this neuroscientific explanation makes munching and slurping any less irritating.