Increased Respiratory Drive in Sustained Ventricular Vocal Fold Phonation

Sustained ventricular vocal fold (VVF) phonation is an uncommon and often uncomfortable method of vocal production. However, among some singers, including metal vocalists, beatboxers, and throat singers, VVF phonation is common and produced without reported discomfort. Although computational studies and qualitative self-reported data suggest increased air pressure and flow are necessary to produce VVF phonation, quantitative in-vivo aerodynamic data is lacking.

To determine the aerodynamic differences between modal true vocal fold (TVF) phonation and two VVF phonation styles (Kargyraa throat singing and mixed vocal distortion) in a trained adult male singer METHODS: TVF and both VVF phonation styles were produced at approximately C3 (∼130Hz) while the singer sustained [a], [i], and [u] three times each, repeated the syllables [pa], [pi], and [pu] five times each, spoke the all-voiced sentence "We were away a year ago," and transitioned between phonation styles on sustained vowels. Sound pressure levels, mean airflow, and mean peak air pressure were compared across tasks and styles.

Both styles of VVF phonation showed higher airflow than TVF phonation. Mixed distortion demonstrated instances of 4-fold greater transglottal flow while Kargyraa demonstrated instances of 2-fold greater transglottal flow. Additionally, mean peak air pressure was 2-4-fold greater during the repeated syllables for both VVF styles. Intensity was greater by 2-6 dB SPL in all instances of VVF productions.

Overall, airflow, pressure, and intensity were greater in all tasks during VVF phonation. These findings suggest that greater airflow and air pressure are used to sustain these styles of phonation. Future studies will seek to confirm these findings across a diverse set of singers with expertise in VVF phonation and address didactic applications of targeting increased airflow for VVF phonation.