title: Effects of perturbation magnitude and voice F0 level on the pitch-shift reflex.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the responsiveness of the pitch-shift reflex to small magnitude stimuli and voice fundamental frequency (F(0)) level. English speakers received pitch-shifted voice feedback (+/-10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 cents, 200 ms duration) during vowel phonations at a high and a low F(0) level. Mean pitch-shift response magnitude increased as a function of pitch-shift stimulus magnitude, but when expressed as a percent of stimulus magnitude, declined from 100% with +/-10 cents to 37% with +/-50 cents stimuli. Response magnitudes were larger and latencies were shorter with a high F(0) level (16 cents;130 ms) compared to a low F(0) level (13 cents;152 ms). Data from the present study demonstrate that vocal response magnitudes are equal to small perturbation magnitudes, and they are larger and faster with a high F(0) voice. These results suggest that the audio-vocal system is optimally suited for compensating for small pitch rather than larger perturbations. Data also suggest the sensitivity of the audio-vocal system to voice perturbation may vary with F(0) level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, 2240 Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
authors.forename: Hanjun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Larson
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D010699:Phonation; D010898:Pitch Perception; D011930:Reaction Time; D012022:Reflex, Acoustic; D013997:Time Factors; D014831:Voice