A new Special Issue titled Neural and Cognitive Mechanisms of Tinnitus, Hyperacusis, and Misophonia is now open for submissions. The issue is part of the Sensory and Motor Neuroscience section and aims to bring together interdisciplinary research exploring the complex mechanisms underlying sound-related disorders.
Tinnitus, hyperacusis, misophonia, and noise sensitivity are increasingly recognised as heterogeneous conditions emerging from dynamic interactions between peripheral auditory pathology, central auditory processing, and cognitive and affective systems involved in salience, attention, and threat detection. Although these conditions have often been studied separately, growing evidence suggests that they share overlapping but partially distinct mechanisms.
This Special Issue seeks to advance integrative and mechanistically grounded models by bringing together contributions from neuroscience, neurology, neuro-otology, psychiatry, cognitive science, audiology, and ENT. By examining both shared and condition-specific mechanisms, the collection aims to support the development of stratified and mechanism-informed approaches to diagnosis and treatment.
The Special Issue is closely linked with two major international conferences in the field: the 8th International Conference on Hyperacusis and Misophonia (ICHM8), taking place from 14–16 October 2026 in Hanover, Germany, and the 4th World Tinnitus Congress and XV International Tinnitus Seminar (WTC/ITS), taking place from 30 June to 2 July 2027 in London, UK. These meetings are expected to generate important new research and collaborations and will serve as key feeder conferences for submissions to this Special Issue.
Submissions are invited in the form of original research articles and high-quality review papers addressing topics such as:
Cochlear and auditory nerve mechanisms
Cortical and subcortical auditory processing
Interactions between auditory, limbic, and salience networks
Sensory gain and gating processes
Predictive processing and threat learning
Emotional reactivity and attentional control
Emotion regulation and compulsivity
Comorbidity and psychiatric dimensions
Individual differences related to development, trauma, and neurodiversity
Studies employing neuroimaging, electrophysiology, psychophysiology, audiological and neuro-otological assessment, neurological and psychiatric evaluation, computational modelling, and experimental paradigms are particularly encouraged.
The aim of this Special Issue is to strengthen the conceptual foundations of research into sound-related disorders and support future translational work bridging neuroscience, clinical practice, and treatment innovation.
For more information, and to submit a manuscript or register as a reviewer, please visit:
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/brainsci/special_issues/41027Z9CKC
Dr. Aazh Hashir
Guest Editor
