Our Ph.D. student, Ms. Despina Melanthiou presented her research project on identifying novel biomarkers for misophonia. Her work, that is being conducted at the University of Cyprus, explores the use of electroencephalography (EEG), heart rate variability (HRV), and other neuropsychophysiological markers, alongside biological markers from blood samples, to better understand this complex sensory processing disorder. Misophonia, characterized by intense emotional reactions to specific sounds, affects countless individuals worldwide, and Despina’s research is a vital step toward unraveling its underlying mechanisms.

Despina’s study will be capturing brain activity patterns,  integrating HRV, a well-established measure of autonomic nervous system function, providing insights into the neural and physiological correlates of misophonia. Additionally, her analysis of blood-based biomarkers aims to identify molecular signatures that could serve as objective indicators of misophonia, addressing a critical gap in current diagnostic approaches. The significance of Despina’s work lies in its innovative combination of neuropsychophysiological and biological markers, a relatively underexplored area in misophonia research.