Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38849382›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2024

Biomechanics of sound production in high-pitched classical singing.

Matthias Echternach, Fabian Burk, Marie Köberlein, Michael Döllinger, Michael Burdumy, Bernhard Richter, Ingo R Titze, Coen P H Elemans, Christian T Herbst

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Observational
  5. Article
  6. Inhibition of the MRTF-A/SRF signaling axis alleviates vocal fold scarring.Matrix biology : journal of the International Society for Matrix Biology · 2025
    Article
  7. Vocal registers expand signal diversity in vertebrate vocal communication.Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences · 2025
    Review
  8. Article
  9. Investigation Methods for Vocal Onset-A Historical Perspective.Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Matthias Echternach *Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, LMU University Hospital, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany. matthias.echternach@med.uni-muenchen.de.
Fabian BurkDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology and Plastic Surgery, SRH Wald-Klinikum Gera, Strasse des Friedens 122, Gera, Germany.
Marie KöberleinDivision of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, LMU University Hospital, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
Michael DöllingerDivision of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Waldstr. 1, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
Michael BurdumyDepartment of Medical Physics, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 60, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
Bernhard RichterInstitute of Musicians' Medicine, Freiburg University Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine Freiburg University, Elsässer Str. 2m, 79110, Freiburg, Germany.
Ingo R TitzeUtah Center for Vocology, 240 S 1500 E, Room 206, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
Coen P H ElemansVocal Neuromechanics Lab, Sound Communication and Behavior Group, Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230, Odense M, Denmark.
Christian T Herbst *Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria. info@christian-herbst.org.

Funding

The Role of the Vocal Ligament in VocalizationR01DC018280 · NIDCD · UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · PI TITZE, INGO R · 2020 to 2024
$3.1M
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Ec409/1-1NIDCD NIH HHS R01 DC018280NIH HHS 1 R01 DC 018280 - 05
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Voice production of humans and most mammals is governed by the MyoElastic-AeroDynamic (MEAD) principle, where an air stream is modulated by self-sustained vocal fold oscillation to generate audible air pressure fluctuations. An alternative mechanism is found in ultrasonic vocalizations of rodents, which are established by an aeroacoustic (AA) phenomenon without vibration of laryngeal tissue. Previously, some authors argued that high-pitched human vocalization is also produced by the AA principle. Here, we investigate the so-called "whistle register" voice production in nine professional female operatic sopranos singing a scale from C6 (≈ 1047 Hz) to G6 (≈ 1568 Hz). Super-high-speed videolaryngoscopy revealed vocal fold collision in all participants, with closed quotients from 30 to 73%. Computational modeling showed that the biomechanical requirements to produce such high-pitched voice would be an increased contraction of the cricothyroid muscle, vocal fold strain of about 50%, and high subglottal pressure. Our data suggest that high-pitched operatic soprano singing uses the MEAD mechanism. Consequently, the commonly used term "whistle register" does not reflect the physical principle of a whistle with regard to voice generation in high pitched classical singing.

Indexed as

SingingVocal CordsAdultBiomechanical PhenomenaFemaleHumansPhonationSoundVoice

Identifiers

PMID38849382
PMCPMC11161605

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.