scholarly journals The physiology of oral whistling: a combined radiographic and MRI analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alba Azola ◽  
Jeffrey Palmer ◽  
Rachel Mulheren ◽  
Riccardo Hofer ◽  
Florian Fischmeister ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Resonant Cavity ◽  
Helmholtz Resonator ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Air Jet ◽  
Tongue Position ◽  
Buccal Space ◽  
Opening And Closing

The fluid mechanics of whistling involve the instability of an air jet, resultant vortex rings, and the interaction of these rings with rigid boundaries (see http://www.canal-u.tv/video/cerimes/etude_radiocinematographique_d_un_siffleur_turc_de_kuskoy.13056 and Meyer J. Whistled Languages. Berlin, Germany: Springer, 2015, p. 74–774). Experimental models support the hypothesis that the sound in human whistling is generated by a Helmholtz resonator, suggesting that the oral cavity acts as a resonant chamber bounded by two orifices, posteriorly by raising the tongue to the hard palate, and anteriorly by pursed lips (Henrywood RH, Agarwal A. Phys Fluids 25: 107101, 2013). However, the detailed anatomical changes in the vocal tract and their relation to the frequencies generated have not been described in the literature. In this study, videofluoroscopic and simultaneous audio recordings were made of subjects whistling with the bilabial (i.e., “puckered lip”) technique. One whistling subject was also recorded, using magnetic resonance imaging. As predicted by theory, the frequency of sound generated decreased as the size of the resonant cavity increased; this relationship was preserved throughout various whistling tasks and was consistent across subjects. Changes in the size of the resonant cavity were primarily modulated by tongue position rather than jaw opening and closing. Additionally, when high-frequency notes were produced, lateral chambers formed in the buccal space. These results provide the first dynamic anatomical evidence concerning the acoustic production of human whistling. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We establish a new and much firmer quantitative and physiological footing to current theoretical models on human whistling. We also document a novel lateral airflow mechanism used by both of our participants to produce high-frequency notes.

scholarly journals Production of sound by unsteady throttling of flow into a resonant cavity, with application to voiced speech

2011 ◽  
Vol 672 ◽  
pp. 428-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. HOWE ◽  
R. S. McGOWAN
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Volume Flow Rate ◽  
Resonant Cavity ◽  
Helmholtz Resonator ◽  
Analytic Form ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Back Reaction ◽  
Full Account ◽  
Aerodynamic Sound ◽  
Voiced Speech

An analysis is made of the sound generated by the time-dependent throttling of a nominally steady stream of air through a small orifice into a flow-through resonant cavity. This is exemplified by the production of voiced speech, where air from the lungs enters the vocal tract through the glottis at a time-variable volume flow rate Q(t) controlled by oscillations of the glottis cross-section. Voicing theory has hitherto determined Q from a heuristic, reduced complexity ‘Fant’ differential equation. A new self-consistent, integro-differential form of this equation is derived in this paper using the theory of aerodynamic sound, with full account taken of the back-reaction of the resonant tract on the glottal flux Q. The theory involves an aeroacoustic Green's function (G) for flow–surface interactions in a time-dependent glottis, so making the problem non-self-adjoint. In complex problems of this type, it is not usually possible to obtain G in an explicit analytic form. The principal objective of this paper is to show how the Fant equation can still be derived in such cases from a consideration of the equation of aerodynamic sound and from the adjoint of the equation governing G in the neighbourhood of the ‘throttle’. The theory is illustrated by application to the canonical problem of throttled flow into a Helmholtz resonator.

High frequency cavity modes of a Helmholtz resonator excited by an air jet

2019 ◽  
Vol 145 (3) ◽  
pp. 1709-1709
Author(s):  
Emma Shaw ◽  
James P. Cottingham ◽  
Robert Stills
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Helmholtz Resonator ◽  
Air Jet ◽  
Cavity Modes

Assessment of Tongue Position and Laryngeal Height in Two Professional Voice Populations

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-124
Author(s):  
Carly Jo Hosbach-Cannon ◽  
Soren Y. Lowell ◽  
Raymond H. Colton ◽  
Richard T. Kelley ◽  
Xue Bao
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Fold ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Acoustic Resonance ◽  
Contact Dynamics ◽  
Voice Disorder ◽  
Music Program ◽  
Tongue Position ◽  
Singer Groups ◽  
Professional Voice

Purpose To advance our current knowledge of singer physiology by using ultrasonography in combination with acoustic measures to compare physiological differences between musical theater (MT) and opera (OP) singers under controlled phonation conditions. Primary objectives addressed in this study were (a) to determine if differences in hyolaryngeal and vocal fold contact dynamics occur between two professional voice populations (MT and OP) during singing tasks and (b) to determine if differences occur between MT and OP singers in oral configuration and associated acoustic resonance during singing tasks. Method Twenty-one singers (10 MT and 11 OP) were included. All participants were currently enrolled in a music program. Experimental procedures consisted of sustained phonation on the vowels /i/ and /ɑ/ during both a low-pitch task and a high-pitch task. Measures of hyolaryngeal elevation, tongue height, and tongue advancement were assessed using ultrasonography. Vocal fold contact dynamics were measured using electroglottography. Simultaneous acoustic recordings were obtained during all ultrasonography procedures for analysis of the first two formant frequencies. Results Significant oral configuration differences, reflected by measures of tongue height and tongue advancement, were seen between groups. Measures of acoustic resonance also showed significant differences between groups during specific tasks. Both singer groups significantly raised their hyoid position when singing high-pitched vowels, but hyoid elevation was not statistically different between groups. Likewise, vocal fold contact dynamics did not significantly differentiate the two singer groups. Conclusions These findings suggest that, under controlled phonation conditions, MT singers alter their oral configuration and achieve differing resultant formants as compared with OP singers. Because singers are at a high risk of developing a voice disorder, understanding how these two groups of singers adjust their vocal tract configuration during their specific singing genre may help to identify risky vocal behavior and provide a basis for prevention of voice disorders.

Orofacial Movements Associated With Fluent Speech in Persons Who Stutter

2004 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 294-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. McClean ◽  
Stephen M. Tasko ◽  
Charles M. Runyan
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Movement Speed ◽  
Speed Ratio ◽  
Electromagnetic System ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Lower Lip ◽  
Fluent Speech ◽  
Speed Increase ◽  
Speech Disfluency ◽  
Opening And Closing

This study was intended to replicate and extend previous findings that (a) during fluent speech persons who stutter (PS) and those who do not (NS) differ in their vocal tract closing movements (L. Max, A. J. Caruso, & V. L. Gracco, 2003) and (b) ratios relating lip and tongue speed to jaw speed increase with stuttering severity (M. D. McClean & C. R. Runyan, 2000). An electromagnetic system was used to record movements of the upper lip, lower lip, tongue, and jaw of 43 NS and 37 PS during productions of a nonsense phrase and a sentence. Measurement and analysis of movement speeds, durations, and ratios of lip and tongue speed to jaw speed were performed on fluent productions of a nonsense phrase and sentence. Statistical comparisons were made between PS with low and high stuttering severity levels (LPS and HPS) and NS. Significant variations across groups in movement speed and duration were observed, but the pattern of these effects was complex and did not replicate the results of the two earlier studies. In the nonsense phrase, significant reductions in lower lip closing duration, jaw closing duration, and jaw closing speed were seen in PS. In the sentence task, HPS showed elevated tongue opening and closing durations. For tongue opening in the sentence, LPS showed elevated speeds and HPS showed reduced speeds. The elevated speeds for LPS are interpreted as a contributing factor to speech disfluency, whereas the reduced speeds and increased durations in HPS are attributed to adaptive behavior intended to facilitate fluent speech. Significant group effects were not seen for the speed ratio measures. Results are discussed in relation to multivariate analyses intended to identify subgroups of PS.

Further Observations on Noise Levels in Infant Incubators

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred H. Bess ◽  
Barbara Finlayson Peek ◽  
Judy J. Chapman
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Impulse Noise ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Frequency Region ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Storage Unit ◽  
High Frequency Region ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Opening And Closing

The purpose of this study was to conduct an acoustic analysis of incubator noise under two conditions: when the incubator was associated with different types of life-support equipment; and when impulse noise was created by striking the side of the incubator or by opening and closing the doors of the storage unit. It was found that the life-support equipment increased the overall noise levels of incubators by as much as 15 to 20 dB. Much of this increased energy was in the high frequency region. Impulse signals created by striking the side of the incubator ranged from 130 to 140 dB. A representative impulse for opening the incubator was 92.8 dB, whereas closing the door produced a peak amplitude of 114 dB.

A Comparison Between Experimental and Predicted Flow Profiles Beneath a Semi-Confined Axisymmetric Impinging Jet

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Y. Cheong ◽  
P. T. Ireland ◽  
S. Ashforth-Frost
Keyword(s):  
Viscous Flow ◽  
Flow Model ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Impinging Jet ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Velocity Profiles ◽  
Axisymmetric Case ◽  
Air Jet ◽  
Wall Flow ◽  
Near Wall

Theoretical predictions have been compared with experiment for a single semi-confined impinging jet. The turbulent air jet discharged at Re = 20 000 and impinged at nozzle-to-plate spacings (z/d) of 2 and 6.5. Experimental velocity profiles were obtained using hot-wire anemometry. Theoretical velocity profiles were derived using stagnation three-dimensional flow model and viscous flow model for an axisymmetric case. For z/d = 2, velocity profiles in the inviscid region of the near wall flow can be predicted accurately using the stagnation flow model. As the edge of the jet is approached, the flow becomes complex and, as expected, cannot be predicted using the model. Prediction of boundary layer profiles using the viscous flow solution for an axisymmetric case is also reasonable. For z/d = 6.5, the developing impinging jet is essentially turbulent on impact and consequently predictions of near wall flow field, using both the theoretical models, are inappropriate.

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