The effect of phonation into a straw on the vocal tract adjustments and formant frequencies. A preliminary MRI study on a single subject completed with acoustic results

0373267 - ÚT 2012 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Laukkanen, A. M. - Horáček, Jaromír - Krupa, P. - Švec, J. G.
The effect of phonation into a straw on the vocal tract adjustments and formant frequencies. A preliminary MRI study on a single subject completed with acoustic results.
Biomedical Signal Processing and Control. Roč. 7, č. 1 (2012), s. 50-57. ISSN 1746-8094. E-ISSN 1746-8108
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA101/08/1155
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z20760514
Keywords : vocal exercises * semi-occlusions * vocal tract setting
Subject RIV: BI - Acoustics
Impact factor: 1.074, year: 2012
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1746809411000097

Phonation into a straw is used in voice training and therapy. This study investigated its’ effect on the vocal tract adjustments. Magnetic resonance images were taken from one female phonating first on [a:], then into a plastic drinking straw and then again [a:]. Acoustic samples were recorded from her and 10 other females. The samples were analyzed for fundamental frequency, sound pressure level (SPL), five lowest formant frequencies (F1-F5) and SPL of the speaker’s formant cluster range (2,5-4,5 kHz). During and after phonation into a straw, the midsagittal area of the vocal tract increased and the velar closure improved. The ratio of the transversal area of the lower pharynx over that epilarynx increased both during (27%) and after the straw (20%). The overall SPL of the speaker’s formant cluster increased. The frequencies of F2, F4 a F5 decreased, while F3 increased. The distances between F4 and F3 and F5 and F4 decreased by 49%. For the 10 subjects, F3 increased, F4 decreased and the distance between F3 and F4 decreased significantly.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0206393