Sound Research WIKINDX
Sound Research WIKINDX |
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Jacewicz, E., Alexander, J. M., & Fox, R. A. (2023). Introduction to the special issue on perception and production of sounds in the high-frequency range of human speech. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 154(5), 3168–3172. Added by: Mark Grimshaw-Aagaard (3/9/26, 9:54 AM) Last edited by: Mark Grimshaw-Aagaard (3/9/26, 10:14 AM) |
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| Resource type: Journal Article Language: en: English Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1121/10.0022496 ID no. (ISBN etc.): 0001-4966 BibTeX citation key: Jacewicz2023 Email resource to friend View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Hearing, Ultrasound Creators: Alexander, Fox, Jacewicz Collection: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America |
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| Abstract |
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The frequency range audible to humans can extend from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, but only a portion of this range—the lower end up to 8 kHz—has been systematically explored because extended high-frequency (EHF) information above this low range has been considered unnecessary for speech comprehension. This special issue presents a collection of research studies exploring the presence of EHF information in the acoustic signal and its perceptual utility. The papers address the role of EHF hearing in auditory perception, the impact of EHF hearing loss on speech perception in specific populations and occupational settings, the importance of EHF in speech recognition and in providing speaker-related information, the utility of acoustic EHF energy in fricative sounds, and ultrasonic vocalizations in mice in relation to human hearing. Collectively, the research findings offer new insights and converge in showing that not only is EHF energy present in the speech spectrum, but listeners can utilize EHF cues in speech processing and recognition, and EHF hearing loss has detrimental effects on perception of speech and non-speech sounds. Together, this collection challenges the conventional notion that EHF information has minimal functional significance.
Added by: Mark Grimshaw-Aagaard Last edited by: Mark Grimshaw-Aagaard |
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Of interest . . . "Second, evidence exists that humans are responsive to inaudible nonstationary (i.e., music) ultrasounds. It has been shown that frequency information in the range 22–50 kHz (and often exceeding 50 kHz and at times 100 kHz) can be registered by the brain, specifically by deep-lying brain structures, including the brain stem and thalamus (Oohashi, 2000). However, activation in these areas occurred only when a full range sound containing audible low-frequency (below 22 kHz) and inaudible (above 22 kHz and up to 100 kHz) components was presented to listeners, whereas no such activation was found when either low or high components were presented separately. The complex interaction between audible and inaudible frequency components has been termed the hypersonic effect. Evaluating sound quality of music, listeners reported that the full range sound “was softer, more reverberant, with a better balance of instruments, more comfortable to the ears, and richer in nuance” (p. 3553) than the low-frequency sound alone. In a series of follow-up studies, it has been proposed that the hypersonic effect emerges when the air-conducing auditory system interacts with some other vibration sensing systems in the human body (Oohashi, 2006) and that deep brain activity may be a response to an environment rich in inaudible (to humans) high-frequency sounds, such as those generated by insects in the natural environment of tropical rainforests (Honda, 2015). The two scenarios exemplify that the full human hearing range and not only the essential or sufficient low end can be utilized in complex interactions between the processes in the brain, human body, and environment and that the advantage of extended hearing up to 20 kHz can be revealed in processing sound environment information not confined to the frequency range of human speech. We hope that the articles in this special issue will lead to future investigations of such complexities and to recognition of the extent of applicability of high-frequency information both audible and inaudible to humans." See: Oohashi et al. (2000) Oohashi et al. (2006) Oohashi, T., Kawai, N., Nishina, E., Honda, M., Yagi, R., & Nakamura, S., et al. (2006). The role of biological system other than auditory air-conduction in the emergence of the hypersonic effect. Brain Research, 1073-1074, 339–347. |