Performance characterization of human pitch control system: an acoustic approach

• Published in: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America Vol. 85; no. 3; pp. 1322 - 1328
• Main Authors: JAFARI, M, KWOK-HUNG WONG, BEHBEHANI, K, KONDRASKE, G. V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Woodbury, NY Acoustical Society of America 01-03-1989; American Institute of Physics
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Ear and associated structures. Auditory pathways and centers. Hearing. Vocal organ. Phonation. Sound production. Echolocation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Larynx - physiology; Male; Phonation; Pulmonary Ventilation; Sound Spectrography; Speech - physiology; Speech Acoustics; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Vocal Cords - physiology; Voice; Voice Quality; Human; Measurement; Loudness; Language; Speech; Mathematical model; Acoustic method; Phonation; Pitch(acoustics); Information transmission
• ISSN: 0001-4966; 1520-8524
• DOI: 10.1121/1.397463

The performance of the human pitch control system was characterized by measurement of the speed of pitch shift and pitch shift response speed (inverse of reaction time) at various initial pitch and loudness levels. Data from three nonsinger adult male subjects and one professional singer suggest a strong inverse correlation (r greater than 0.78) between initial pitch and rate of pitch rise. This study showed no significant relation between initial loudness and rate of pitch rise. Also, vocal response speed showed no significant relation with either initial pitch or loudness. However, it is suggested that pitch shift response speed might be related to the second formant frequency of the target vowel. A composite index of pitch control performance capacity was defined as the product of response speed and vocal fold contractile velocity. From experimental data, the composite index was able to reflect a distinct 74% superior performance by the professional singer (relative to the average maximum performance capacity of nonsingers). It is suggested that the product-based composite index of performance capacity can serve as a sensitive means for vocal proficiency determination.