The effects of continuous phonation on 133xenon-inhalation air curves (of the kind used in deriving regional cerebral blood flow)

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) may be measured with inhalation techniques that use end-expired values of radioactivity to estimate the isotope concentration in arterial blood. These end-expired data are used as an input function in a mathematical equation to derive rCBF. End-expired air is assumed normally to be in equilibrium with the arterial blood at the alveolar surface of the lung during regular (passive) breathing; this assumption may not be valid during continuous phonation. We therefore have analyzed breathing (inhalation/exhalation) patterns and end-expired radioactivity (133Xe) during (1) speaking, (2) singing, and (3) humming of the national anthem, and also during (4) passive breathing. Statistically significant differences in breathing patterns were measured between a group of nonmusicians and two groups of musicians (singers) during the phonation tasks: The nonmusicians breathed more often (and more rapidly) and exhibited less variability in their breathing patterns than did the musicians. Notwithstanding these differences, the shapes of smoothed functions derived from the end-expired values were not influenced appreciably during phonation (except possibly during talking). The latter finding suggests that estimates of rCBF derived with these data should not be confounded seriously because of the continuous phonation.     

The effects of continuous phonation on Xenon-inhalation air curves (of the kind used in deriving regional cerebral blood flow)

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) may be measured with inhalation techniques that use end-expired values of radioactivity to estimate the isotope concentration in arterial blood. These end-expired data are used as an input function in a mathematical equation to derive rCBF. End-expired air is assumed normally to be in equilibrium with the arterial blood at the alveolar surface of the lung during regular (passive) breathing; this assumption may not be valid during continuous phonation. We therefore have analyzed breathing (inhalation/exhalation) patterns and end-expired radioactivity (¹³³Xe) during (1) speaking, (2) singing, and (3) humming of the national anthem, and also during (4) passive breathing. Statistically significant differences in breathing patterns were measured between a group of nonmusicians and two groups of musicians (singers) during the phonation tasks: The nonmusicians breathed more often (and more rapidly) and exhibited less variability in their breathing patterns than did the musicians. Notwithstanding these differences, the shapes of smoothed functions derived from the end-expired values were not influenced appreciably during phonation (except possibly during talking). The latter finding suggests that estimates of rCBF derived with these data should not be confounded seriously because of the continuous phonation.     

Relations of singing talent with voice onset time of trained and untrained female singers

This study examined phonatory-articulatory timing during sung productions by trained and untrained female singers with and without singing talent. 31 untrained female singers were divided into two groups (talented or untalented) based on the perceptual judgments of singing talent by two experienced vocal instructors. In addition to the untrained singers, 24 trained female singers were recorded singing America the Beautiful, and voice onset time was measured for selected words containing /p, b, g, k/. Univariate analyses of variance indicated that phonatory-articulatory timing, as measured with voice onset time, was different among the three groups for /g/, with the untrained-untalented singers displaying longer voice onset time than the trained singers. No other significant differences were observed across the other phonemes. Despite a significant difference observed, relatively small effect sizes and statistical power make it difficult to draw any conclusions regarding the usefulness of voice onset time as an indicator of singing talent.     

The personality of opera singers

Ninety-one opera singers in the London area completed a questionnaire concerning their voice type, experience, physical characteristics, performance habits and personality. They also rated the personality of one singer of each voice type with whom they were familiar, and one man and one woman who were not singers. Higher-voiced singers emerged as more emotional, difficult, unreliable, conceited and feminine than lower-voiced singers of the same sex, according to their own report and that of others. Lower-voiced singers were taller and thinner, and within the men particularly, more inclined to sexual affairs with fellow singers. These findings are seen as consistent with German research showing a higher testosterone/oestradiol ratio in lower-voiced singers.     

Facial Feature Assessment of Popular U.S. Country Music Singers Across Social and Economic Conditions

The facial features of the artists of the top Country Billboard song for each year from 1946 to 2010 were investigated across changes in U.S. socioeconomic conditions. When conditions were relatively poor, country music artists with more mature facial features of smaller eyes and larger chins were popular, and when conditions were more prosperous, country music artists with more baby-faced features of larger eyes and smaller chins were popular. Results extend previous findings with pop singers, movie actresses, and Playboy Playmates, and suggest the social and economic environment influences preferences for country singers across time.     

脑出血后智力障碍与局部脑血流量相关性研究

作者用长谷川智力测定量表法测定了６１例脑出血患者的智力,用ＳＰＥＣＴ定量测定法测定了双侧大脑半球各１５个脑区的局部血流量,并计算其比值。分析了脑出血、局部脑血流量、局部脑血流量比值与长谷川分数的关系。结果提示脑出血时,除由于病变直接破坏与智力有关的结构外,左半球（特别是左颞叶及左缘上回和角回）局部脑血流量下降,缘上回和角回、颞上回后部、颞中回后部、颞下回局部脑血流量比值失衡亦可能是造成智力下降的原因。     

A long-term follow-up case study of crossed aphasia assessed by single-photon emission tomography (SPECT), language, and neuropsychological testing

A 65-year-old man with well-defined crossed aphasia secondary to right cerebral infarction 10 years previously was studied for current language and cognitive abilities and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during cognitive activation measured by single-photon emission tomography (SPECT). Reversed hemispheric lateralization was demonstrated by qualitative aspects of the patient's constructional deficits, dominant parietal lobe signs, and absence of the neglect syndrome. Language activation procedures during SPECT produced focal increases in rCBF to both frontal lobes with a phoneme detection task and to right temporal and parietal lobes with a math task. The authors stress the complexities of assessing brain/language mechanisms in vivo and demonstrate variabilities in rCBF during language activation dependent on task selection.     

A novel approach for measuring social participation in adults who stutter

This paper reports a preliminary study which trialled a novel approach for measuring speech output and social participation. The amount of phonation was accumulated via an objective measure called an Ambulatory Phonation Monitor (APM).Purpose(1) To establish whether adults who stutter will tolerate wearing an APM for an extended period of time (three days), (2) to test whether the APM can accumulate useful data about the amount of phonation adults who stutter produce in the course of a normal day and (3) to examine a possible relationship between stuttering severity and amount of phonation.MethodThree adults who stutter wore an APM for three consecutive days during their waking hours. Each completed a questionnaire regarding the device and kept a speech diary outlining daily speaking activities and self-reported stuttering severity. APM data regarding amount of phonation was collected, analysed and compared with the participants’ speech diaries.ResultsEach adult tolerated wearing the APM and while they felt comfortable speaking wearing the device, it was somewhat cumbersome. Variations in the amount of speaking across each day and in different speaking situations were evident. For two participants there was a positive correlation between phonation time and severity rating.ConclusionsPreliminary data suggests that the APM can provide valuable information about the amount adults who stutter speak. The APM is sufficiently sensitive to differentiate variations in the amount of phonation during different speaking situations. These favourable preliminary results suggest the value of a larger scale study.Educational Objectives: The reader will be able to: (a) describe the different aspects of stuttering currently routinely measured in clinical practice; (b) discuss the limitations of current measurement procedures; (c) discuss the advantages of speech measures obtained by an Ambulatory Phonation Monitor APM); (d) describe the perspectives of adults who stutter who have worn an APM to measure phonation time.     

Listening Comprehension, Oral Expression, Reading Comprehension, and Written Expression: Related Yet Unique Language Systems in Grades 1, 3, 5, and 7

Age-normed tests of Listening Comprehension, Oral Expression, Reading Comprehension, and Written Expression were administered in grades 1 (n=128), 3, and 5 or 3 (n=113), 5, and 7. Confirmatory factor analyses compared one- and four- factor models at each grade level and supported a four- factor model of Language by Ear, Mouth, Eye, and Hand. Multiple regressions identified which of the three other language skills explained unique variance in each of the four language skill outcomes and provided additional evidence that language is not a single skill. Individuals' ipsative scores (amount that the standard score for age on each language measure deviated from individual's mean for all four measures) showed that 25% to 30% of individuals showed relative strengths or weaknesses (+ or - 1 SD) in specific language skills, but only 7% were stable across grades 3 and 5. Findings are discussed in reference to (a) theoretical implications for idea comprehension and expression via language by ear, mouth, eye, and hand, and (b) educational applications of observed developmental and individual differences for general, special, and gifted education.     

Phonation Types Matter in Sound Symbolism

Sound symbolism is a non-arbitrary correspondence between sound and meaning. The majority of studies on sound symbolism have focused on consonants and vowels, and the sound-symbolic properties of suprasegmentals, particularly phonation types, have been largely neglected. This study examines the size and shape symbolism of four phonation types: modal and creaky voices, falsetto, and whisper. Japanese speakers heard 12 novel words (e.g., /íbi/, /ápa/) pronounced with the four types of phonation and rated the size and roundedness/pointedness each of the 48 stimuli seemed to represent on seven-point scales. The results showed that phonation types as well as consonantal and vocalic features influenced the ratings. Creaky voice was associated with larger and more pointed images than modal voice, which was in turn associated with larger and more pointed images than whisper. Falsetto was also associated with roundedness but not with smallness. These results shed new light on the acoustic approaches to sound symbolism and suggest the significance of phonation types and other suprasegmental features in the phenomenon.     

Attachment, parenting, and separation--individuation in adolescence: a comparison of hospitalized adolescents, institutionalized delinquents, and controls

The authors compared parent-related perceptions by hospitalized adolescents (i.e., who were admitted to a specialized psychiatric unit; n = 50) and delinquent adolescents (i.e., who were placed at a juvenile treatment institution; n = 51) with adolescents from the general population (n = 51). All adolescents completed a broad set of measures of attachment, perceived parenting, and separation-individuation. Contrary to initial expectations, hospitalized adolescents scored higher than controls on indices of excessive autonomy. Ambivalence regarding issues of interpersonal closeness and distance was found among delinquent adolescents. In addition, hospitalized and delinquent adolescents were found to be struggling, each in their specific way, with attachment-related experiences of trauma. Finally, delinquent adolescents also showed a stage-appropriate form of potentially adaptive narcissism. These findings add to the growing consensus in the literature that associations between adolescent psychopathology and parent-related perceptions are typically complex and somewhat counterintuitive.     

MCMI differences between alcoholics and cocaine abusers: effect of age, sex, and race.

Samples of alcohol-dependent-only subjects (n = 164), cocaine-dependent-only subjects (n = 63), and subjects dependent on multiple substances, including alcohol and cocaine (n = 103), were administered the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) as part of a routine clinical evaluation. The alcohol-only group was older (M = 38.7 years) and had a higher percentage of White subjects than other groups. The multiple-use (60%) group also had a higher percentage of White subjects than the cocaine only group (38%) and a higher percentage of male subjects (81%) than the alcohol-only group (67%). Although the MCMI characteristics of each diagnostic group paralleled previous findings, few MCMI differences were found after controlling for age, sex, and race effects. The implications of these results for treatment development are discussed.     

Voice onset and articulatory constriction requirements in a speech segment and their relation to the amount of stuttering adaptation

This study evaluated the hypothesis that the amount of stuttering adaptation increases as the number of requirements for the prompt onset of phonation and complete articulatory constriction across passages decreases. To test this prediction, three special reading passages were constructed. The number of requirements for the quick initiation of phonation and complete articulatory constriction decreased from passages I to II to III. Eleven stutterers read each passage five times. Of these individuals, seven exhibited the well-known adaptation effect on all three selections. However, adaptation increased significantly from passage I to II to III. Among the remaining four subjects, three failed to adapt on passage I which contained the greatest number of requirements for the prompt onset of phonation and complete articulatory constrictions. These results were interpreted as supporting the hypothesis under test.     

Reactions to two versions of affirmative action among whites, blacks, and Hispanics

Houston-area Whites (n = 414), Blacks (n = 392), American-born Hispanics (n = 162), and Hispanic immigrants (n = 177) evaluated a self-defined "typical" affirmative action plan (AAP) and a tiebreak AAP that applies under conditions of equal qualifications and underrepresentation. Whites preferred Tiebreak; Blacks and Hispanics preferred the typical AAP. The groups differed in beliefs about the procedures and fairness of affirmative action (AA), perceptions of workplace discrimination, and political orientations. Perceived fairness predicted support for both AAPs in all American-born groups, but the impact of other predictors varied greatly across AAPs and ethnic groups. The results clarify the bases for Whites' opposition to AA as they construe it. The results also underscore the importance of specifying the AAP procedures, of uncovering the predictors of AA attitudes among target-group members, and of conducting separate analyses in each ethnic community.     

Musicians' working memory for tones,words, and pseudowords

Studies investigating factors that influence tone recognition generally use recognition tests, whereas the majority of the studies on verbal material use self-generated responses in the form of serial recall tests. In the present study we intended to investigate whether tonal and verbal materials share the same cognitive mechanisms, by presenting an experimental instrument that evaluates short-term and working memories for tones, using self-generated sung responses that may be compared to verbal tests. This paradigm was designed according to the same structure of the forward and backward digit span tests, but using digits, pseudowords, and tones as stimuli. The profile of amateur singers and professional singers in these tests was compared in forward and backward digit, pseudoword, tone, and contour spans. In addition, an absolute pitch experimental group was included, in order to observe the possible use of verbal labels in tone memorization tasks. In general, we observed that musical schooling has a slight positive influence on the recall of tones, as opposed to verbal material, which is not influenced by musical schooling. Furthermore, the ability to reproduce melodic contours (up and down patterns) is generally higher than the ability to reproduce exact tone sequences. However, backward spans were lower than forward spans for all stimuli (digits, pseudowords, tones, contour). Curiously, backward spans were disproportionately lower for tones than for verbal material—that is, the requirement to recall sequences in backward rather than forward order seems to differentially affect tonal stimuli. This difference does not vary according to musical expertise.     

Cerebral blood flow in 5‐ to 8‐month‐olds: Regional tissue maturity is associated with infant affect

Infancy is marked by rapid neural and emotional development. The relation between brain function and emotion in infancy, however, is not well understood. Methods for measuring brain function predominantly rely on the BOLD signal; however, interpretation of the BOLD signal in infancy is challenging because the neuronal‐hemodynamic relation is immature. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) provides a context for the infant BOLD signal and can yield insight into the developmental maturity of brain regions that may support affective behaviors. This study aims to elucidate the relations among rCBF, age, and emotion in infancy. One hundred and seven mothers reported their infants' (infant age M ± SD = 6.14 ± 0.51 months) temperament. A subsample of infants completed MRI scans, 38 of whom produced usable perfusion MRI during natural sleep to quantify rCBF. Mother‐infant dyads completed the repeated Still‐Face Paradigm, from which infant affect reactivity and recovery to stress were quantified. We tested associations of infant age at scan, temperament factor scores, and observed affect reactivity and recovery with voxel‐wise rCBF. Infant age was positively associated with CBF in nearly all voxels, with peaks located in sensory cortices and the ventral prefrontal cortex, supporting the formulation that rCBF is an indicator of tissue maturity. Temperamental Negative Affect and recovery of positive affect following a stressor were positively associated with rCBF in several cortical and subcortical limbic regions, including the orbitofrontal cortex and inferior frontal gyrus. This finding yields insight into the nature of affective neurodevelopment during infancy. Specifically, infants with relatively increased prefrontal cortex maturity may evidence a disposition toward greater negative affect and negative reactivity in their daily lives yet show better recovery of positive affect following a social stressor.     

Personal investment, culture and learning: insights into school achievement across Anglo, Aboriginal, Asian and Lebanese students in Australia

Personal investment theory is a multifaceted theory of motivation, in which three key components: achievement goals (mastery, performance, social, and extrinsic), sense of self (sense of purpose, self-reliance, negative self-concept, positive self-concept), and facilitating conditions (parent support, teacher support, peer support), engage students in the process of learning. Four cultural groups (Anglo Australian, n = 852, Aboriginal Australian, n = 343, Lebanese Australian, n = 372, and Asian Australian, n = 283) of students were compared on these personal investment components and on several outcome measures (engagement, affect, achievement, participation). A series of MANOVAs, followed up by univariate tests, indicated ethnic differences and similarities in the endorsement of the personal investment theory components as well as in the outcome measures. Multiple regression analyses showed that each of the three sets of predictors (achievement goals, sense of self, facilitating conditions) explained a significant amount of the variance in almost all of the outcome measures. Across cultural groups, students' mastery goal and sense of purpose were consistently found to be significant predictors of their intention for further education, positive affect for schooling, and valuing of schooling.     

Musicians' working memory for tones, words, and pseudowords

Studies investigating factors that influence tone recognition generally use recognition tests, whereas the majority of the studies on verbal material use self-generated responses in the form of serial recall tests. In the present study we intended to investigate whether tonal and verbal materials share the same cognitive mechanisms, by presenting an experimental instrument that evaluates short-term and working memories for tones, using self-generated sung responses that may be compared to verbal tests. This paradigm was designed according to the same structure of the forward and backward digit span tests, but using digits, pseudowords, and tones as stimuli. The profile of amateur singers and professional singers in these tests was compared in forward and backward digit, pseudoword, tone, and contour spans. In addition, an absolute pitch experimental group was included, in order to observe the possible use of verbal labels in tone memorization tasks. In general, we observed that musical schooling has a slight positive influence on the recall of tones, as opposed to verbal material, which is not influenced by musical schooling. Furthermore, the ability to reproduce melodic contours (up and down patterns) is generally higher than the ability to reproduce exact tone sequences. However, backward spans were lower than forward spans for all stimuli (digits, pseudowords, tones, contour). Curiously, backward spans were disproportionately lower for tones than for verbal material-that is, the requirement to recall sequences in backward rather than forward order seems to differentially affect tonal stimuli. This difference does not vary according to musical expertise.     

Emotion in Speech: The Acoustic Attributes of Fear, Anger, Sadness, and Joy

Decoders can detect emotion in voice with much greater accuracy than can be achieved by objective acoustic analysis. Studies that have established this advantage, however, used methods that may have favored decoders and disadvantaged acoustic analysis. In this study, we applied several methodologic modifications for the analysis of the acoustic differentiation of fear, anger, sadness, and joy. Thirty-one female subjects between the ages of 18 and 35 (encoders) were audio-recorded during an emotion-induction procedure and produced a total of 620 emotion-laden sentences. Twelve female judges (decoders), three for each of the four emotions, were assigned to rate the intensity of one emotion each. Their combined ratings were used to select 38 prototype samples per emotion. Past acoustic findings were replicated, and increased acoustic differentiation among the emotions was achieved. Multiple regression analysis suggested that some, although not all, of the acoustic variables were associated with decoders' ratings. Signal detection analysis gave some insight into this disparity. However, the analysis of the classic constellation of acoustic variables may not completely capture the acoustic features that influence decoders' ratings. Future analyses would likely benefit from the parallel assessment of respiration, phonation, and articulation.     

Cognitive abnormalities and cerebral perfusion defects in a community-dwelling cohort of elderly men with MMSE within the normal range

Objectives: Mini Mental State Examination’s (MMSE’s) sensitivity in its upper level is questioned, hence we investigated cognitive abnormalities and defects in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in elderly with MMSE scores ≥24.

Methods: One hundred and four men at age 81 with MMSE scores ≥24 (mean 28.4 ± 1.7), no dementia or stroke, were examined with neuropsychological test battery, and their rCBF was estimated using ^99mTc-HMPAO SPECT.

Results: MMSE was very sparsely correlated with rCBF. Instead, visuo-spatial tests were correlated with rCBF in parietal and occipital lobe, verbal tests with rCBF in frontal and temporal-parietal lobes, and most of all between Digit Symbol and all rCBF regions, especially in subcortical gray and white matter. In a cluster of low achievers, test of Synonyms, followed by Digit Symbol and Benton test, had highest discriminatory importance. Low achievers had generalized rCBF changes especially in subcortical areas. Only lower scores on two MMSE items, figure drawing and calculation, could discriminate the clusters.

Conclusion: A substantial number of octogenarian men with MMSE ≥ 24p have widespread rCBF changes corresponding to a decreased speeded performance and verbal capacity.