Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

On the relation between the dimensions and resonance characteristics of the vocal tract: A study with MRI

A M Sulter, Donald G. Miller, Rienhart F. Wolf, Harm K. Schutte, Hero P. Wit, Eduard L. Mooyaart

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The relation between the spatial configuration of the vocal tract as determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the acoustical signal produced was investigated. A male subject carried out a set of phonatory tasks, comprising the utterance of the sustained vowels /i/ and /a/, each in a single articulation, and the vowel /epsilon/ with his larynx positioned variously on a vertical axis. Two- and three-dimensional measurements of the vocal tract were performed. The results of these measurements were used to calculate resonance frequencies, according to predictions from acoustical theory. Finally, calculated frequencies were compared with actually measured resonance frequencies in the audio signal. We found a strong relation between the acoustical signal produced and the spatial configuration for the first resonance frequencies of the articulations of the vowel /epsilon/, and first two resonance frequencies of the vowels /a/ and /i/. The capability to determine accurately vocal tract dimensions is a major advantage of this imaging technique.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)365-773
Number of pages9
JournalMagnetic Resonance Imaging: An International Journal of Basic Research and Clinical Applications
Volume10
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1992
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • larynx
  • magnetic resonance imaging
  • male
  • palate
  • sound spectrography
  • voice
  • anatomy
  • histology
  • physiology

Research Focus Areas Hanze University of Applied Sciences * (mandatory by Hanze)

  • Healthy Ageing

Research Focus Areas Research Centre or Centre of Expertise * (mandatory by Hanze)

  • Frailty and adequate care

Publinova themes

  • Health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'On the relation between the dimensions and resonance characteristics of the vocal tract: A study with MRI'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this