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Updated: Aug 19, 2025

Synthetic, Multi-Layer, Self-Oscillating Vocal Fold Model Fabrication
Published on: December 2, 2011
Physical modeling of the vocal membranes and their influence on animal voice production
Mayuka Kanaya1, Takuma Matsumoto1, Taisuke Uemura1
1Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan.
Abstract:
The vocal membrane, i.e., an extended part of the vocal fold, is observed in a wide range of species including bats and primates. A theoretical study [Mergell, Fitch, and Herzel (1999). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 105(3), 2020-2028] predicted that the vocal membranes can make the animal vocalizations more efficient by lowering the phonation threshold pressure. To examine this prediction, a synthetic model of the vocal membrane was developed, and its oscillation properties were examined. The experiments revealed that the phonation threshold pressure was lower in the vocal membrane model compared to that in a model with no vocal membrane. Chaotic oscillations were observed as well.
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