Neural adaptation to changes in self-voice during puberty

• Published in: Trends in neurosciences (Regular ed.) Vol. 47; no. 10; pp. 777 - 787
• Main Authors: Pinheiro, Ana P., Aucouturier, Jean-Julien, Kotz, Sonja A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-10-2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: adolescence; brain maturation; Cognitive science; hallucinations; hormones; Neuroscience; sensitive period; sensory feedback; adolescence; sensitive period; brain maturation; hormones; hallucinations; sensory feedback
• ISSN: 0166-2236; 1878-108X; 1878-108X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.08.001

In adolescence, one’s own voice changes significantly due to a surge of pubertal hormones, resulting in a distinctive voice signature. A person’s unique voice signature signals one’s own individuality and becomes increasingly relevant as social networks expand.While these puberty-related changes contribute to the development of a unique voice signature, they also initiate a sensitive period of voice monitoring.We propose that, together with hormonal changes, the protracted development of brain regions engaged in voice monitoring and a dynamically changing social environment might affect how the self-voice and others’ voices are discriminated. A socioneuroendocrine framework is needed to comprehensively examine how we perceive and differentiate ourselves through our voice as well as how alterations in these capacities can lead to pathologies related to self–other distinction.
The human voice is a potent social signal and a distinctive marker of individual identity. As individuals go through puberty, their voices undergo acoustic changes, setting them apart from others. In this article, we propose that hormonal fluctuations in conjunction with morphological vocal tract changes during puberty establish a sensitive developmental phase that affects the monitoring of the adolescent voice and, specifically, self–other distinction. Furthermore, the protracted maturation of brain regions responsible for voice processing, coupled with the dynamically evolving social environment of adolescents, likely disrupts a clear differentiation of the self-voice from others’ voices. This socioneuroendocrine framework offers a holistic understanding of voice monitoring during adolescence.
The human voice is a potent social signal and a distinctive marker of individual identity. As individuals go through puberty, their voices undergo acoustic changes, setting them apart from others. In this article, we propose that hormonal fluctuations in conjunction with morphological vocal tract changes during puberty establish a sensitive developmental phase that affects the monitoring of the adolescent voice and, specifically, self–other distinction. Furthermore, the protracted maturation of brain regions responsible for voice processing, coupled with the dynamically evolving social environment of adolescents, likely disrupts a clear differentiation of the self-voice from others’ voices. This socioneuroendocrine framework offers a holistic understanding of voice monitoring during adolescence.