Song Perception by Professional Singers and Actors: An MEG Study.

The cortical correlates of speech and music perception are essentially overlapping, and the specific effects of different types of training on these networks remain unknown. We compared two groups of vocally trained professionals for music and speech, singers and actors, using recited and sung rhyme sequences from German art songs with semantic and/ or prosodic/melodic violations (i.e.

Voice deepening under testosterone treatment in female-to-male gender dysphoric individuals.

Female-to-male gender dysphoric individuals rarely access medical services for voice problems arising out of hormonal treatment leading to "voice reassignment". The aim of this study was a close monitoring of voice deepening in the first year following the commencement of testosterone treatment. Voice recordings from nine female-to-male (FTM) were analyzed with Praat software and values for speaking fundamental frequency (SFF) were calculated.

Clinical investigations of receptive and expressive musical functions after stroke.

There is a long tradition of investigating various disorders of musical abilities after stroke. These impairments, associated with acquired amusia, can be highly selective, affecting only music perception (i.e.

Differences between self-assessment and external rating of voice with regard to sex characteristics, age, and attractiveness.

Objectives: This study investigates differences between the self-assessment and external rating of a person's voice with regard to sex characteristics, age, and attractiveness of the voice and mean fundamental frequency (F0).

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: A group of 47 participants with a balanced sex distribution was recruited and the following data were collected: videostroboscopy, voice range profile, F0, self-assessment questionnaire (attractiveness, masculinity or femininity of voice, and appearance), Voice Handicap Index, and questionnaires to determine levels of depression and quality of life.

Nonorganic hearing loss in children: audiometry, clinical characteristics, biographical history and recovery of hearing thresholds.

Objectives: The term "nonorganic hearing loss" (NOHL) (pseudohypacusis, functional or psychogenic hearing loss) describes a hearing loss without a detectable corresponding pathology in the auditory system. It is characterized by a discrepancy between elevated pure tone audiometry thresholds and normal speech discrimination. The recommended audiological management of NOHL in children comprises history taking, diagnosis, and counseling.

Feasibility of 1000 Hz tympanometry in infants: tympanometric trace classification and choice of probe tone in relation to age.

Objectives: Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) has significantly reduced the age of children undergoing audiological examinations. Middle ear function is usually evaluated with tympanometry using a probe tone of 226 Hz, although higher frequencies are recommended in infants. The aim of this study was to compare the feasibility of 226 and 1000 Hz tympanometry for different trace classification systems in relation to age, risk factors for hearing loss and ear canal volume.

Emotional and analytic music perception in cochlear implant users after optimizing the speech processor.

Conclusion: Cochlear implant (CI) users are able to detect harmonic differences and the emotionally exciting effect of music (arousal) even when using a speech adapted program. Raising the power of lower frequencies of speech processors in CIs for a music program further improved this ability and enhanced subjectively perceived pleasure during listening to music.

Objective: This pilot study compares aspects of analytical and emotional music perception before and after optimizing the speech processor compared to results of normal-hearing subjects.