Scientists discover why you hate the sound of loud chewing

Have you ever wondered why you hate the sound of someone chewing his food loudly or breathing heavily? It's all in your head - literally.

Research from England's Newcastle University uncovered why some people suffer from misophonia, a condition where a person hates the sound of chewing, eating or repeated pen clicking. These noises are called "trigger sounds" and can create intense physiological responses in people with the disorder.

Patients with misophonia experienced changes in their brain activity when they heard trigger sounds, according to MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans conducted during the study. Researchers played a variety of sounds that ranged from neutral to unpleasant, and the neurological responses of patients with misophonia were different than those without.

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