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Jastreboff 2023 idea that the complex conditioned stimuli in Misophonia explains a few oddities in Misophonia

In their 2023 review of misophonia, the Jastreboffs argue that misophonia reflects complex conditioned stimuli in which triggers encompass not only acoustic features but also contextual and interpersonal associations. This model explains why certain sound classes, such as eating or breathing, are common triggers due to their social and emotional salience. It also accounts for stronger reactions to sounds produced by specific individuals, often close family members, because personal history becomes embedded in the conditioned response. Moreover, variability in reactions based on source identification supports this framework: if acoustic properties alone determined the response, intensity would remain constant, but the observed modulation indicates activation of a broader conditioned network (Jastreboff & Jastreboff, 2023).