PHONETOTOPIC ORGANIZATION OF PHONATION

EVIDENCE FROM ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, AERODYNAMICS, ACOUSTICS AND

KINESTETICS

Krzysztof Izdebski Pacific Voice and Speech Foundation

San Francisco, CA, USA

1: Presentation of a neurophysiologic model of

phonation organization 2: Propose voice pitch pattern

predictability 3: Provide evidence for

understanding of phonation training and disordered phonation

processes.

Method: Data from electromyographic, aerodynamic, kinesthetic and

acoustic signals acquired simultaneously during the

production of phonatory ranges, intensities and reaction times.

Hooked-wire bipolar electrodes were inserted bilaterally to

TA, IA, LCA, CT, ST, THmuscles with simultaneous

recordings of Ps, Af, Pio and voice

Tasks included full glissando and varied intensity ranges, speech containing selected segments

comprising loaded, voiceless and random segments

Phonation was initiated at various lung volumes

(MCE, Full and Residual LV)

Tasks included phonatory RTsarranged in the matter of

complexity to reflectcortial organization and peripheral

componentsi.e. vowel, syllables, words with progressive complexity, (v, vic,

vicar, vicerage…)

RTs were elicited in 1: subject own condition

2: on air flow 3: on breath holding

Auditory, Visual and Somesthetic Stimuli were used at randomized

pre-stimulus intervals between 200 and 3000 msec

Experimental cohort varied from

1 to 15 subjects depending on tasks

complexity and medical conditions

Vertical Larynx Positionmotion were tracked with

lateral filming and profile motion was digitized

for up and down deviations from rest as a function of Fo and dB

Both untrained and trained subjects

participated

Results

From these data a model of phonatory organization was

constructed, termed “Phonetotopic model of

phonation.”

Results: It was found that human voice

pitch production follows a predictable pattern. This pattern

follows phonetotopic organization of all intrinsic and extrinsic

laryngeal muscle activity corresponding to given pitch, intensity and quality targets.

Vertical Larynx Position (VLP)

RT = 130 msec60 msec cortical time30 msec efferent time

40-50 msec muscle contration time

XVI PVC PVSF/UCLA

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Tremor vs ADDSD

Conclusions:Based on this phonetotopic organization, voice pattern

deviations are predictable and consequently indicative of voice conditions present in the various vocal pathologies and/or during

artistic training.

Therefore, when examining voice production by referring

observations to phonetotopic patterns, an unequivocal

description of any phonation is possible. Accordingly, pitfalls or deficits of phonation production will correspond in an organized

fashion to the specific conditions observed.

Depending upon these conditions, phonation patterns will differ with

organic (mucosal), neurologic (motility),

traumatic (motility and mobility) and/or functional dysphonias

including malingering, or when the subject is undergoing

vocal training.

References: Izdebski, K. Clinical Voice Assessment: The Role &

Value of the Phonatory Function Studies. Chapter 29, In Lalwani, A.

K. (ed.) Current Diagnosis & Treatment in OTOLARYNGOLOGY-

HEAD & NECK SURGERY, Lange Medical Books/McGraw- Hill, New

York, 3rd Edition, 2011

This research was conducted with

Dr. Thomas Shipp

and this Model is dedicated to him

The End