Contribution of paranasal sinuses to the acoustic properties of the nasal tract.

Background: The contribution of the nasal and paranasal cavities to the vocal tract resonator properties is unclear. Here we investigate these resonance phenomena of the sinonasal tract in isolation in a cadaver and compare the results with those gained in a simplified brass tube model.

Methods: The resonance characteristics were measured as the response to sine sweep excitation from an earphone.

Behavior of evoked otoacoustic emission under low-frequency tone exposure: Objective study of the bounce phenomenon in humans.

The bounce phenomenon has been investigated in humans, evaluating alterations of click evoked otoacoustic emission (EOAE) after presentation of 250-Hz frequency loud tones during 3 min. EOAE changes were manifested in initial augmentation followed by reduction, peaking at 1 and 3 min of post-exposure time, respectively. Recoveries took 5-7 min afterwards.

Effects of a professional solo singer education on auditory and kinesthetic feedback--a longitudinal study of singers' pitch control.

The significance of auditory and kinesthetic feedback to pitch control in singing was described in a previous report of this project for students at the beginning of their professional solo singer education.(1) As it seems reasonable to assume that pitch control can be improved by training, the same students were reinvestigated after 3 years of professional singing education. As in the previous study, the singers sang an ascending and descending triad pattern with and without masking noise in legato and staccato and in a slow and a fast tempo.

Significance of auditory and kinesthetic feedback to singers' pitch control.

An accurate control of fundamental frequency (F0) is required from singers. This control relies on auditory and kinesthetic feedback. However, a loud accompaniment may mask the auditory feedback, leaving the singers to rely on kinesthetic feedback.