Stroboscopic and acoustic measures of inspiratory phonation

doi:10.1016/S0892-1997(99)80044-7

Journal of Voice

Volume 13, Issue 3, September 1999, Pages 389-402

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0892-1997(99)80044-7 Get rights and content

Summary

Inspiratory phonation (IP) is the production of voice as air is taken into the lungs. Although IP is promoted as a laryngeal assessment and voice treatment technique, it has been described quantitatively in very few speakers. This study quantified changes in laryngeal adduction, fundamental frequency, and intensity during IP relative to expiratory phonation (EP). We hypothesized that IP would increase laryngeal abduction and fundamental frequency.

The experiment was a within-subjects, repeated measures design with each subject serving as her own control. Participants were 10 females (ages 19–50 years) who underwent simultaneous transoral videostrobolaryngoscopy and acoustic voice recording. We found that membranous vocal fold contact decreased significantly during IP relative to EP, while the trends for change of ventricular fold squeeze during IP varied across individuals. Vocal fundamental frequency increased significantly during IP relative to EP, but intensity did not vary consistently across conditions. Without teaching or coaching, changes that occurred during IP did not carry over to EP produced immediately following IP within the same respiratory cycle.

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Cited by (18)

Measuring Voice Effects of Vibrato-Free and Ingressive Singing: A Study of Phonation Threshold Pressures
2022, Journal of Voice
Phonation threshold pressure (PTP), showing the lowest subglottal pressure producing vocal fold vibration, has been found useful for documenting various effects of phonatory conditions. The need for such documentation is relevant also to the teaching of singing, particularly in view of vocal demands raised in some contemporary as well as early music compositions. The aim of the present study was to test the usefulness of PTP measurement for evaluating phonatory effects of vibrato-free and ingressive singing in professional singers.
PTP was measured at a middle, a high and a low pitch in two female and two male singers before and after recording voice range profiles (i) in habitual technique, ie, with vibrato, (ii) in vibrato-free, and (iii) in ingressive phonation. Effects on vocal fold status were examined by videolaryngostroboscopy.
After careful instruction of the singers, no problems were found in applying the PTP method. In some singers videolaryngostroboscopy showed effects after the experiment, eg, in terms of increased mucus and more complete glottal closure. After ingressive phonation PTP increased substantially at high pitch in one singer but changed marginally in the other singers.
The method seems useful for assessing and interpreting effects of singing in different styles and as a part of voice diagnostics. Therefore, it seems worthwhile to automatize PTP measurement.
Experimental Study on Inspiratory Phonation Using Physical Model of the Vocal Folds
2022, Journal of Voice
In inspiratory phonation, the air is inhaled from the mouth. The inhaled air passes through the glottis towards the lungs, thereby inducing the vocal fold vibrations. Such phonation takes place in various situations such as sighs, laughter, and crying. To characterize the inspiratory phonation, an experimental study was carried out using a physical model of the vocal folds. By reversing the direction of the airflow that passed through the vocal fold model, the inspiratory phonation was experimentally realized and compared with the normal expiratory phonation. Our experiments revealed that the phonation threshold pressures as well as the volume flow rates decreased under the inspiratory condition. Accordingly, the vocal efficiency was increased. The fundamental frequency was also increased under the inspiratory condition. The kymograms showed that phase of the upper edge of the vocal fold advanced that of the lower edge under the inspiratory phonation. A mathematical model of the vocal folds was further constructed to elucidate these experiments. Except for few aspects, our experimental findings are in good agreement with the preceding studies on inspiratory phonation (e.g., reversed propagation of the mucosal waves observed in a singer, increased pitches in human subjects, and use of inspiratory phonation in speech therapy).
Inspiratory Vocal Fry: Anatomical and Physiological Aspects, Application in Speech Therapy, Vocal Pedagogy and Singing. A Pilot study
2021, Journal of Voice
Inspiratory Vocal Fry (IVF) is the voice production during inspiration of a sound with vocal fry perceptual characteristics. The existing scientific literature shows a lack of studies on it. The aim of the study is to highlight anatomical and physiological characteristics of IVF, to assess its effects on spoken and singing voice, to confirm the potential usefulness in speech therapy and vocal pedagogy.
Thirty-two healthy subjects (17 male and 15 female) underwent videolaryngostroboscopy to assess the degree of false vocal folds adduction, pharyngeal wall contraction, and degree of vocal folds stretching in different types of phonation: expiratory and inspiratory phonation, Expiratory Vocal Fry (EVF) and IVF. All these parameters were evaluated by a group of three speech therapists and one phoniatrician not belonging to the research group. In addition, for each subject an electroglottography was performed for all the types of phonation previously mentioned, highlighting Contact Quotient (CQ) and Closing/Closed Quotient (CCQ). Three subjects underwent electromyography for a preliminary study of the muscle activation in IVF.
False vocal folds adduction (P value = 0.000005) and pharyngeal wall contraction (P value = 0.001155) were significantly reduced in IVF compared to EVF; on the contrary, vocal folds stretching was significantly higher in IVF (P value = 0.000031). Electroglottographic CQ was significantly higher in IVF compared to EVF (P value = 0.019592) and the other types of phonation. Similar results were obtained considering CCQ, as IVF values for this parameter was significantly higher compared to EVF (P value = 0.013062) and expiratory phonation (P value = 0.001324). As regards electromyography, medial thyroarytenoid (TA) motor units were more recruited in IVF, while lateral TA motor units were more recruited in EVF. According to our results, IVF is characterized by higher elastic tension due to a reduced hypertonic contraction of TA muscle and a higher contraction of cricothyroid muscle. Electroglottographic results showed a wider vibratory cycle with an improved massaging effect on vocal folds mucosa. electromyography preliminary analysis confirmed our findings.
IVF could be an excellent and useful exercise to reduce muscular hypertonic tension and to facilitate mucosal elasticity. It could be potentially applied in speech therapy approach to dysfunctional and organic dysphonias, post-surgical treatment, in pedagogy and practice of artistic voice.
Vocal Tract Morphology in Inhaling Singing: Characteristics During Vowel Production—A Case Study in a Professional Singer
2018, Journal of Voice
A professional singer produced various vowels on a comfortable loudness and pitch in an inspiratory and expiratory phonation manner. The present study investigates the morphological differences and tries to find a link with the acoustical characteristics.
We hypothesize that features, constantly present over all vowels, characterize inhaling phonation and that the formant frequencies reflect the morphological findings.
A prospective case study was carried out.
A female singer uttered the vowels /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, and /u/ in a supine position under magnetic resonance imaging, on a comfortable loudness and pitch, in both inhaling and exhaling manner. The exact same parameters as in previous reports were measured (1–3). Acoustical analysis was performed with Praat.
Wilcoxon directional testing demonstrates a statistically significant difference in (1) the distance between the lips, (2) the antero-posterior tongue diameter, (3) the distance between the lips and the tip of the tongue, (4) the distance between the epiglottis and the posterior pharyngeal wall, (5) the narrowing of the subglottic space, and (6) the oropharyngeal and the hypopharyngeal areas. Acoustical analysis reveals slightly more noise and irregularity during reverse phonation. The central frequency of F0 and F1 is identical, whereas that of F2 and F3 increases, and that of F4 varies.
A smaller mouth opening, a narrowing of the subglottic space, a larger supralaryngeal inlet, and a smaller antero-posterior tongue diameter can be considered as morphological characteristics for reverse phonation. Acoustically, reverse phonation discretely contains more noise and perturbation. The formant frequency distribution concurs with a mouth narrowing and pharyngeal widening during inhaling.
Physiology and Acoustics of Inspiratory Phonation
2016, Journal of Voice
Citation Excerpt :
The authors found for the inspiratory utterances a caudal displacement of the larynx, a larger airflow, a higher Fo, a larger jitter %, a prolonged interval of increasing contact (EGG), and an approximation of the upper margins of the vocal folds that preceded that of the lower margins. Kelly and Fisher14 also performed stroboscopic and acoustic measures in 10 normal females, shortly trained to produce an inspiratory phonation immediately followed by expiratory phonations, at comfortable pitch and loudness. A decreased membranous vocal-fold contact was noticed during inspiratory phonation relative to expiratory phonation, as well as an Fo increase.
Inspiratory phonation (IP) means phonating with inspiratory airflow. Some vocalists remarkably master this technique, to such an extent that it offers new dramatic, aesthetic, and functional possibilities in singing specific contemporary music. The present study aims to a better understanding of the physiological backgrounds of IP.
A total of 51 inhaling utterances were compared with 61 exhaling utterances in a professional soprano highly skilled in inhaling singing, by means of high-speed single-line scanning and advanced acoustic analysis. Ranges of intensity and Fo were kept similar.
The main differences are: (1) an inversion of the mucosal wave, (2) a smaller closed quotient in IP, (3) a larger opening/closing quotient in IP with the additional difference that in IP, the quotient is larger than 1 (opening slower than closing), whereas it is less than 1 in expiratory mode (opening faster than closing), (4) a larger vocal-fold excursion in IP, (5) higher values of adaptive normalized noise energy in IP, and (6) a steeper slope of harmonic peaks in IP. However, jitter values are similar (within normal range), as well as damping ratios and central formant frequencies. The two voicing modes cannot be differentiated by blind listening.
The basic physiological mechanisms are comparable in both voicing modes, although with specific differences. IP is actually to be considered as an “extended vocal technique,” a term applied to vocalization in art music, which falls outside of traditional classical singing styles, but with remarkable possibilities in skilled vocalists.
Re: Misun V, Svancara P, Martin V. Experimental analysis of the characteristics of artificial vocal folds. J Voice. 2011;25:308-318
2012, Journal of Voice

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Stroboscopic and acoustic measures of inspiratory phonation

Summary

J Voice

J Voice

J Voice

J Voice

Acoustic correlates of inspiratory phonation during infant cry

J Speech Hear Res

Laryngeal vibrations: measurements of the glottic wave. Part II: Physiologic variations

AMA Arch Otolaryngol

Symptom improvement of spastic dysphonia in response to phonatory tasks

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol

The Voice and Voice Therapy

Understanding Voice Problems: A Physiological Perspective for Diagnosis and Treatment

The Voice and Its Disorders

Inspiratory speech as a management option for spastic dysphonia: case study

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol

Symptom modification for abductor spasmodic dysphonia

Dynamic variation of the vibratory pattern in the normal larynx

Folia Phoniatr (Basel)

Acoustic and physiologic characteristics of inspiratory phonation

J Acoust Soc Am

Reverse phonation: a new maneuver for examining the larynx

Radiology

Contrast examination of the larynx and pharynx: inspiratory phonation

Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med

Fiberoptic laryngoscopy in the assessment of laryngeal disorders

J Laryngol