Why Fidgeting Bothers Some People
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology
·December 7, 2024
Summary: Misokinesia, affecting about one-third of individuals, is an aversion to repetitive bodily movements like fidgeting, causing emotional, cognitive, and physical distress. New research explores its impact on daily life, relationships, and mental well-being, revealing challenges such as intense distraction, rage, and social strain.
Coping strategies include avoidance, mimicry, and communication with understanding friends or family, but the condition remains under-researched. This study highlights potential intervention areas, aiming to better understand and address this pervasive sensory challenge.
Key Facts:
- High Prevalence: Misokinesia affects approximately one-third of people, causing intense aversion to repetitive bodily movements.
- Emotional and Physical Impact: Triggers include feelings of rage, distraction, and even physiological symptoms like increased heart rate and discomfort.
- Potential Treatments: The study highlights intervention areas such as managing physiological responses, addressing intrusive thoughts, and improving social communication.
Source: Neuroscience News
For one-third of the population, repetitive bodily movements like foot-tapping or finger-drumming are more than a mild annoyance—they are triggers for misokinesia, a condition marked by extreme aversion to such actions.
New research from the University of British Columbia sheds light on the personal and social challenges faced by those living with misokinesia, as well as the potential mechanisms behind this puzzling condition.
Misokinesia, meaning “hatred of movement,” manifests in intense emotional, cognitive, and physiological responses when individuals are exposed to repetitive movements. These responses range from an inability to concentrate to feelings of rage and even physical symptoms such as heart palpitations.
Participants in the study reported avoiding social interactions, struggling with relationships, and using coping strategies like blocking their view of the movements or leaving the environment altogether.
Through interviews with individuals who self-identified as having misokinesia, researchers identified three core themes: personal impacts, social challenges, and pragmatic factors associated with triggering stimuli.
Interestingly, while the condition shares similarities with misophonia—the aversion to certain sounds—misokinesia’s causes remain elusive.
Preliminary findings suggest that the issue may not stem from noticing repetitive movements but rather from the inability to disengage attention from them once noticed.
The study highlights the need for better awareness of misokinesia among clinicians and researchers, as well as the importance of exploring targeted interventions.
Future treatments might involve therapies to manage physiological responses, cognitive strategies to address intrusive thoughts, or tools to improve communication about the condition with others.
Misokinesia remains underrecognized despite its high prevalence and profound impact on individuals’ lives. As awareness grows, this research provides a foundation for understanding the condition and finding ways to alleviate its effects.
About this misokinesia and psychology research news
Author: Neuroscience News Communications
Source: Neuroscience News
Contact: Neuroscience News Communications – Neuroscience News
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“I struggle with your fidgeting: A qualitative study of the personal and social impacts of misokinesia” by Sumeet M. Jaswal et al. PLOS ONE
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