Biomechanics of sound production in high-pitched classical singing.

Voice production of humans and most mammals is governed by the MyoElastic-AeroDynamic (MEAD) principle, where an air stream is modulated by self-sustained vocal fold oscillation to generate audible air pressure fluctuations. An alternative mechanism is found in ultrasonic vocalizations of rodents, which are established by an aeroacoustic (AA) phenomenon without vibration of laryngeal tissue. Previously, some authors argued that high-pitched human vocalization is also produced by the AA principle.

Prospectively accelerated dynamic speech magnetic resonance imaging at 3 T using a self-navigated spiral-based manifold regularized scheme.

This work develops and evaluates a self-navigated variable density spiral (VDS)-based manifold regularization scheme to prospectively improve dynamic speech magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3 T. Short readout duration spirals (1.3-ms long) were used to minimize sensitivity to off-resonance.

Domestic cat larynges can produce purring frequencies without neural input.

Most mammals produce vocal sounds according to the myoelastic-aerodynamic (MEAD) principle, through self-sustaining oscillation of laryngeal tissues. In contrast, cats have long been believed to produce their low-frequency purr vocalizations through a radically different mechanism involving active muscle contractions (AMC), where neurally driven electromyographic burst patterns (typically at 20-30 Hz) cause the intrinsic laryngeal muscles to actively modulate the respiratory airflow. Direct empirical evidence for this AMC mechanism is sparse.

Automatic Multiple Articulator Segmentation in Dynamic Speech MRI Using a Protocol Adaptive Stacked Transfer Learning U-NET Model.

Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging has emerged as a powerful modality for investigating upper-airway function during speech production. Analyzing the changes in the vocal tract airspace, including the position of soft-tissue articulators (e.g.

Acoustical Theory of Vowel Modification Strategies in Belting.

Various authors have argued that belting is to be produced by "speech-like" sounds, with the first and second supraglottic vocal tract resonances (f and f) at frequencies of the vowels determined by the lyrics to be sung. Acoustically, the hallmark of belting has been identified as a dominant second harmonic, possibly enhanced by first resonance tuning (f≈2f). It is not clear how both these concepts - (a) phonating with "speech-like," unmodified vowels; and (b) producing a belting sound with a dominant second harmonic, typically enhanced by f - can be upheld when singing across a singer's entire musical pitch range.

Voices in the ocean.

Toothed whales evolved a third way of making sounds similar to that of land mammals and birds.

Dynamic System Coupling in Voice Production.

Voice is a major means of communication for humans, non-human mammals and many other vertebrates like birds and anurans. The physical and physiological principles of voice production are described by two theories: the MyoElastic-AeroDynamic (MEAD) theory and the Source-Filter Theory (SFT). While MEAD employs a multiphysics approach to understand the motor control and dynamics of self-sustained vibration of vocal folds or analogous tissues, SFT predominantly uses acoustics to understand spectral changes of the source via linear propagation through the vocal tract.

A flexible 16-channel custom coil array for accelerated imaging of upper and infraglottic airway at 3 T.

Purpose: To develop a custom coil and evaluate its utility for accelerated upper and infraglottic airway MRI at 3 T.

Methods: A 16-channel flexible and anatomy-conforming coil was developed to provide localized sensitivity over upper and infraglottic airway regions of interest. Parallel-imaging capabilities were compared against existing head and head-neck coils.

Singing Voice Symptomatology Following Presumed SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

The impact of continued COVID-19 sequelae on singers' vocal function has yet to be determined. An online survey of singers who have contracted SARS-CoV-2 infection was designed and administered globally. Participants (n = 1,153) were recruited in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, and Europe.

A Joyful Noise: The Vocal Health of Worship Leaders and Contemporary Christian Singers.

Contemporary commercial music (CCM) is a term that encompasses many styles of music. A growing subset of CCM is contemporary Christian music, a genre that has outpaced other popular styles such as Latin, jazz, and classical music. Contemporary Christian singers (CCSs) and worship leaders (WLs) are a subset of CCM musicians that face unique vocal demands and risks.