The effects of short-term auditory masking on fundamental frequency variability

Normal speaking young men (N:6) repeatedly uttered a 3-word sentence stressing either Word 1, 2, or 3, in quiet and in while noise at 100 db SPL. Fo was measured for each word and over each sentence. Fo variability was significantly affected when stressed words were produced in noise. Mean sentence Fo levels were elevated in noise; Ss were therefore more restricted in their prosodic maneuvering above this average Fo level. SS could produce consistent stress patterns in noise. These results suggest that Fo may be regulated by open-loop systems.