__smbhome.uscs.susx.ac.uk_ellenaj_Desktop_SRO_Pisanski et al 2016 Sci Rep - vocal modulation of body size.pdf (585.39 kB)
Volitional exaggeration of body size through fundamental and formant frequency modulation in humans
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posted on 2023-06-09, 03:36 authored by David Reby, Katarzyna Pisanski, Annette Pisanski, Emanuel C Mora, Tomasz Frackowiak, David R Feinberg, Piotr SorokowskiSeveral mammalian species scale their voice fundamental frequency (F0) and formant frequencies in competitive and mating contexts, reducing vocal tract and laryngeal allometry thereby exaggerating apparent body size. Although humans’ rare capacity to volitionally modulate these same frequencies is thought to subserve articulated speech, the potential function of voice frequency modulation in human nonverbal communication remains largely unexplored. Here, the voices of 167 men and women from Canada, Cuba, and Poland were recorded in a baseline condition and while volitionally imitating a physically small and large body size. Modulation of F0, formant spacing (?F), and apparent vocal tract length (VTL) were measured using Praat. Our results indicate that men and women spontaneously and systemically increased VTL and decreased F0 to imitate a large body size, and reduced VTL and increased F0 to imitate small size. These voice modulations did not differ substantially across cultures, indicating potentially universal sound-size correspondences or anatomical and biomechanical constraints on voice modulation. In each culture, men generally modulated their voices (particularly formants) more than did women. This latter finding could help to explain sexual dimorphism in F0 and formants that is currently unaccounted for by sexual dimorphism in human vocal anatomy and body size.
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- Published
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- Published version
Journal
Scientific ReportsISSN
2045-2322Publisher
Nature Publishing GroupExternal DOI
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6Page range
34389Department affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2016-10-19First Open Access (FOA) Date
2017-06-29First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2016-10-19Usage metrics
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