Objective autonomic signatures of tinnitus and sound sensitivity disorders

Hypersensitivity, phantom percepts, and sensory reactivity are core features of many neurological disorders. Direct, objective measurements of these features have proven difficult to identify, leaving subjective questionnaires as the primary means of assessing sensory disorder severity. Here, we studied neurotypical adults (n = 50) or adults with a combination of sound sensitivity and tinnitus (ringing of the ears; n = 47) and identified a new class of objective measurement that predicted individual differences in the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ). A neurophysiological assessment of central auditory gain demonstrated an elevation in participants with tinnitus and sound sensitivity but no association with symptom severity. Instead, accurate predictors of individual THI and HQ scores were identified in pupil dilations and facial movements elicited by emotionally evocative sounds. These findings highlight autonomic signatures of disrupted affective so..., , # Data from: Objective autonomic signatures of tinnitus and sound sensitivity disorders

[Access this dataset on Dryad](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.bzkh189nb)

Submitted data were collected for the following study:
Smith, S. S., Jahn, K. N., Sugai, J. A., Hancock, K. E., & Polley, D. B. (2025). Objective Autonomic Signatures of Tinnitus and Sound Sensitivity Disorders.

## Descriptions

***indiv_values.xlsx***
Each row lists study measures for each participant, with columns as follows:

* *Group*: Grouping of study participant as neurotypical (i.e., did not report sound sensitivity, nor intermittent or chronic tinnitus; NT) or disordered hearing (based on clinical evaluation of chronic tinnitus or abnormal sound sensitivity; DH).
* *Tinnitus*: Determination as to whether study participant had chronic tinnitus (yes/no).
* *Age*: Age of study participant (years).
* *HQ*: Score on Hyperacusis Questionnaire (integer score).
* *THI*: Score on Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (integer score).
* ..., All participants provided their written informed consent to participate in the study and have agreed to allow their de-identified health information to be shared.