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Updated: May 13, 2026
fMRI Mapping of Brain Activity Associated with the Vocal Production of Consonant and Dissonant Intervals
Published on: May 23, 2017
Effect of fundamental frequency at voice onset on vocal attack time
Ben C Watson1, R J Baken, Rick M Roark
1Department of Speech-Language Pathology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA. watson@nymc.edu
Objective:
To examine vocal attack time (VAT) values associated with the production of low, mid, and high rates of vocal fold vibration in normal speakers.
Study Design:
Sound pressure (SP) and electroglottographic (EGG) recordings were obtained for eight female and five male subjects while producing multiple tokens of the sustained vowels /ɑ/, /i/, and /u/ at comfortable loudness and at mid, low (-3 semitones), and high (+6 semitones) rates of vocal fold vibration.
Methods:
Generalized sinusoidal models of the SP and EGG signals were computed to compare rates of amplitude change. VAT was computed from the time lag of the cross-correlation function.
Results:
Adjusted mean VAT for the high frequency condition was smaller than the adjusted mean VAT values for the low- and mid-frequency conditions. There was no significant difference between the mid and low frequency conditions.
Conclusions:
Findings reveal an association of the VAT measure with increases in vocal fold tension associated with the production of high rates of vocal fold vibration.
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