A Behavioral Approach to the Effects of the Gender of Voice on the Dichotic Listening Test Performance

Abstract

Background and Purpose: In the dichotic listening test, not only the asymmetry of the auditory system is evaluated but also the associated cognitive processes. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of male and female voices on dichotic listening.
 Methods: Participants consisted of 10 men and 14 women, aged 18–45 (28.54±6.23) without neurological or auditory disorders. The dichotic listening test was applied to four different sessions. These sessions: female voices in both ears, male voices in both ears, male and female voices in both ears (mono session), male voices in the right ear, female voices in the left ear, and female voices in the right ear, and male voices in the left ear (stereo).
 Results: It was determined that brain lateralization was significantly reduced in the female session compared with the stereo session; in other words, right ear dominance decreased (p=0.026, d=-0.293). It was determined that there was a significant difference between the number of errors in male and stereo sessions.
 Conclusion: Participants preferred the syllables voiced with male voice more in mono and stereo sessions. It is observed that female participants mostly prefer syllables voiced with a male voice, and male participants prefer syllables voiced with a female voice.