Body

connectivity data supports the Kumar motor basis model of Misophonia and extends to include a subcortical anticipatory circuit

In a 2026 study, Ajmera attempted to identify neural connectivity-based markers of misophonia using an optimized machine learning framework applied to resting-state fMRI data from subjects categorized into misophonia-only (MI), misophonia-with-hyperacusis (MH), and control groups based on structured clinical interviews and established questionnaires. they found significant somatomotor network connectivity alterations found in both MI and MH groups which directly replicate Kumar et al.'s (2021) finding of motor network involvement in misophonia, converging across methodologies. The more novel extension comes from the MI-specific finding of decreased right globus pallidus connectivity, which the authors interpret as reflecting an anticipatory mechanism, a predisposition to internally simulate or mirror the orofacial gestures that generate trigger sounds. This subcortical finding aligns with and extends Kumar et al.'s motor basis model by suggesting the motor involvement in misophonia operates not just cortically but also through a subcortical anticipatory circuit. However, the authors caution that because their data are resting-state, the active role of the globus pallidus during trigger-sound processing requires task-based confirmation, and whether this mechanism extends to non-orofacial triggers remains an open question.  (Ajmera et al., 2026)

open questions focus

decreased right globus pallidus connectivity as evidence of a subcortical anticipatory circuit extending the cortical motor model of misophonia

Ajmera et al. (2026) identified decreased right globus pallidus connectivity in misophonia-only participants using resting-state fMRI, interpreting this as evidence of a subcortical anticipatory circuit predisposing individuals to internally simulate orofacial gestures that generate trigger sounds , extending Kumar et al.'s (2021) cortical motor basis model into subcortical territory. However, because the data are resting-state, whether the globus pallidus plays an active role during actual trigger-sound processing requires task-based confirmation, and whether this anticipatory mechanism generalizes beyond orofacial triggers remains an open question (Ajmera et al., 2026) .

Kumar support focus

Ajmera et al. (2026) identified neural connectivity-based markers of misophonia using an optimized machine learning framework applied to resting-state fMRI data from subjects categorized into misophonia-only, misophonia-with-hyperacusis, and control groups. They found significant somatomotor network connectivity alterations in both misophonia groups, directly replicating Kumar et al.'s (2021) finding of motor network involvement in misophonia and converging across methodologies (Ajmera et al., 2026) .