Modulation of the Voice Related to Tremor and Vibrato

描述（由申请人提供）：声音的调制是包括呼吸装置（即，压力供应）、喉（即声源）和声道（即，声音滤波器）。这些振荡可能是由与神经系统疾病（如原发性震颤）相关的病理性震颤引起的，也可能是由歌手的颤音的意志产生引起的。由于特定于发声系统的每个组成部分的声音调制的声学特性以及这些特性对感知的影响尚未得到很好的理解，因此很难评估患有影响声音的震颤的个体，并确定用于降低该疾病的感知严重性的最有效干预措施。本研究的目的是确定与喉为基础的发声震颤的声学特性如何影响语音调制的幅度的感知，并确定是否可以调整的声音源和声道滤波器，以改变声学输出，减少调制的感知。 这项研究将使用语音产生的计算模型和训练有素的歌手产生颤音来模拟基于喉的声音震颤。耦合到声道面积函数的参数模型的声带的运动学模型将用于模拟具有不同声源特性（即，声带 声带内收的长度和程度）和不同的声道滤波器特性（即，元音形状）。期望通过对降低高次谐波的幅度的语音源和声道滤波器进行调整，声学输出的特性 将被改变，并且声音调制的幅度的感知将被降低。此外，将要求受过训练的歌手对声源和声道滤波器进行相同的调整，以调查个人是否可以自愿修改这些特征以改变声学输出并减少对声音调制幅度的感知。这项研究的发现将对选择适当的补偿策略以减少震颤影响声音的个体的声音调制的感知严重性产生影响。 喉癌 公共卫生相关性：这项研究的结果将阐明与喉为基础的声乐震颤和颤音的声学特性如何有助于感知的声音调制的幅度，以及确定什么生理修改个人可以改变声学输出和减少调制的感觉。预计这些信息将有助于为患有影响喉部的震颤的个体选择适当的补偿策略，以最大限度地减少这种声音障碍对受神经系统疾病（包括特发性震颤、小脑功能障碍和肌张力障碍）影响的人的生活的影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Modulation of the voice is a result of physiologic oscillation within one or more components of the vocal system including the breathing apparatus (i.e., pressure supply), the larynx (i.e. sound source), and the vocal tract (i.e., sound filter). These oscillations may be caused by pathologic tremor associated with neurological disorders like essential tremor or by volitional production of vibrato in singers. Because the acoustic characteristics of voice modulation specific to each component of the vocal system and the effect of these characteristics on perception are not well-understood, it is difficult to assess individuals with tremor affecting the voice and to determine the most effective interventions for reducing the perceptual severity of the disorder. The purpose of this study is to determine how the acoustic characteristics associated with laryngeal-based vocal tremor affect the perception of the magnitude of voice modulation, and to determine if adjustments can be made to the voice source and vocal tract filter to alter the acoustic output and reduce the perception of modulation. This research will be carried out using both a computational model of speech production and trained singers producing vibrato to simulate laryngeal-based vocal tremor. A kinematic model of the vocal folds coupled to a parametric model of the vocal tract area function will be used to simulate laryngeal-based vocal tremor with different voice source characteristics (i.e., vocal fold length and degree of vocal fold adduction) and different vocal tract filter characteristics (i.e., vowel shapes). It is expected that, by making adjustments to the voice source and vocal tract filter that reduce the amplitude of the upper harmonics, the characteristics of the acoustic output will be altered and the perception of magnitude of voice modulation will be reduced. In addition, trained singers will be asked to make the same adjustments to the voice source and vocal tract filter to investigate whether individuals can volitionally modify these characteristics to alter th acoustic output and reduce the perception of the magnitude of voice modulation. The findings from this study will have implications for selecting appropriate compensatory strategies to reduce the perceptual severity of modulation of the voice for individuals with tremor affecting the larynx. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The findings from this study will clarify how the acoustic characteristics associated with laryngeal-based vocal tremor and vibrato contribute to the perception of magnitude of modulation of the voice, as well as identify what physiologic modifications individuals can make to alter the acoustic output and reduce the perception of modulation. It is expected that this information will be useful in selecting appropriate compensatory strategies for individuals with tremor affecting the larynx to minimize the impact of this voice disorder on the lives of those affected by neurological disorders including essential tremor, cerebellar dysfunction, and dystonia.