High-pitched Sounds Research Articles

High-Pitched Sound is Open and Low-Pitched Sound is Closed: Representing the Spatial Meaning of Pitch Height.

Research shows that high- and low-pitch sounds can be associated with various meanings. For example, high-pitch sounds are associated with small concepts, whereas low-pitch sounds are associated with large concepts. This study presents three experiments revealing that high-pitch sounds are also associated with open concepts and opening hand actions, while low-pitch sounds are associated with closed concepts and closing hand actions. In Experiment 1, this sound-meaning correspondence effect was shown using the two-alternative forced-choice task, while Experiments 2 and 3 used reaction time tasks to show this interaction. In Experiment 2, high-pitch vocalizations were found to facilitate opening hand gestures, and low-pitch vocalizations were found to facilitate closing hand gestures, when performed simultaneously. In Experiment 3, high-pitched vocalizations were produced particularly rapidly when the visual target stimulus presented an open object, and low-pitched vocalizations were produced particularly rapidly when the target presented a closed object. These findings are discussed concerning the meaning of intonational cues. They are suggested to be based on cross-modally representing conceptual spatial knowledge in sensory, motor, and affective systems. Additionally, this pitch-opening effect might share cognitive processes with other pitch-meaning effects.

Is Front associated with Above and Back with Below? Association between Allocentric Representations of Spatial Dimensions.

Previous research has revealed congruency effects between different spatial dimensions such as right and up. In the audiovisual context, high-pitched sounds are associated with the spatial dimensions of up/above and front, while low-pitched sounds are associated with the spatial dimensions of down/below and back. This opens the question of whether there could also be a spatial association between above and front and/or below and back. Participants were presented with a high- or low-pitch stimulus at the time of the onset of the visual stimulus. In one block, participants responded according to the above/below location of the visual target stimulus if the target appeared in front of the reference object, and in the other block, they performed these above/below responses if the target appeared at the back of the reference. In general, reaction times revealed an advantage in processing the target location in the front-above and back-below locations. The front-above/back-below effect was more robust concerning the back-below component of the effect, and significantly larger in reaction times that were slower rather than faster than the median value of a participant. However, the pitch did not robustly influence responding to front/back or above/below locations. We propose that this effect might be based on the conceptual association between different spatial dimensions.

Humans (Homo sapiens) but not baboons (Papio papio) demonstrate crossmodal pitch-luminance correspondence.

Humans spontaneously and consistently map information coming from different sensory modalities. Surprisingly, the phylogenetic origin of such cross-modal correspondences has been under-investigated. A notable exception is the study of Ludwig et al. (Visuoauditory mappings between high luminance and high pitch are shared by chimpanzees [Pan troglodytes] and humans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(51), 20661-20665) which reports that both humans and chimpanzees spontaneously map high-pitched sounds with bright objects and low-pitched sounds with dark objects. Our pre-registered study aimed to directly replicate this research on both humans and baboons (Papio papio), an old world monkey which is more phylogenetically distant from humans than chimpanzees. Following Ludwig et al.participants were presented with a visual classification task where they had to sort black and white square (low and high luminance), while background sounds (low or high-pitched tones) were playing. Whereas we replicated the finding that humans' performance on the visual task was affected by congruency between sound and luminance of the target, we did not find any of those effects on baboons' performance. These results question the presence of a shared cross-modal pitch-luminance mapping in other nonhuman primates.

The voice of the Adriatic? The Keszthely triton conch trumpet

A trumpet made from the shell of a triton conch (Charonia sp.), from the time of the Late Copper Age Protoboleráz horizon, was found at the Keszthely–Fenékpuszta I site in western Hungary. Triton’s trumpet conches are widely spread in tropical, subtropical, and Mediterranean marine habitats, including the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas. In Hungary, extremely rare finds of this species may have originated from the Adriatic Sea, the closest distribution area within the reach of long-distance trade. By removing the tip of the shell of the conch, a horn was made which could be used to emit high-pitched sounds, as a ceremonial horn and/or played in harmony with other instruments.

A Development of a Sound Recognition-Based Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training System.

The objective of this study was to develop a sound recognition-based cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training system that is accessible, cost-effective, easy-to-maintain and provides accurate CPR feedback. Beep-CPR, a novel device with accordion squeakers that emit high-pitched sounds during compression, was developed. The sounds emitted by Beep-CPR were recorded using a smartphone, segmented into 2-second audio fragments, and then transformed into spectrograms. A total of 6,065 spectrograms were generated from approximately 40 minutes of audio data, which were then randomly split into training, validation, and test datasets. Each spectrogram was matched with the depth, rate, and release velocity of the compression measured at the same time interval by the ZOLL X Series monitor/defibrillator. Deep learning models utilizing spectrograms as input were trained using transfer learning based on EfficientNet to predict the depth (Depth model), rate (Rate model), and release velocity (Recoil model) of compressions. Results: The mean absolute error (MAE) for the Depth model was 0.30 cm (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.27-0.33). The MAE of the Rate model was 3.6/min (95% CI: 3.2-3.9). For the Recoil model, the MAE was 2.3 cm/s (95% CI: 2.1-2.5). External validation of the models demonstrated acceptable performance across multiple conditions, including the utilization of a newly-manufactured device, a fatigued device, and evaluation in an environment with altered spatial dimensions. We have developed a novel sound recognition-based CPR training system, that accurately measures compression quality during training. Significance: Beep-CPR is a cost-effective and easy-to-maintain solution that can improve the efficacy of CPR training by facilitating decentralized at-home training with performance feedback.

Sound augmentation for people with dementia: Soundscape evaluation based on sound labelling

Researchers increasingly look at augmenting soundscapes to reduce Behavioural and Psychological Syndrome of Dementia (BPSD). However, methods to select suitable sounds still need improvement. This study proposes a sound selection methodology to augment the soundscape in nursing homes to lower BPSD, using sound characteristics and recognition methods. To uncover the underlying characteristics of sounds that trigger a positive response, added sounds previously used in nursing homes in Flanders were re-analyzed using a wide range of acoustic and psychoacoustic indices. The results highlight the sound characteristics that lead to positive responses and the need for further studies to understand the sounds most suitable for people with dementia. Results showed that sharpness and high-pitch sounds, such as animal localization or crickets, create a higher chance of a positive response. High-pitched sounds have a higher emergence in a typical nursing home sonic environment, increasing the possibility of being noticed. Sounds recognized as music, however, had a lower chance of a positive response and should be used cautiously. Interestingly, although bird vocalizations are often highly rated in other contexts, the ones considered in the current dataset did not lead to a positive response, highlighting the need for further studies to understand better which sounds are most suitable for people with dementia.

Pitch as a Recipient, Channel, and Context Factor Affecting Thought Reliance and Persuasion.

Three experiments tested how low versus high pitch generated from sources beyond a message communicator can affect reliance on thoughts and influence recipients' attitudes. First, participants wrote positive or negative thoughts about an exam proposal (Experiments 1, 2) or their academic abilities (Experiment 3). Then, pitch from the message recipient (Experiment 1), channel (Experiment 2), or context (Experiment 3) was manipulated to be high or low. Experiment 1 showed that when participants vocally expressed their thoughts using low (vs. high) pitch, thoughts had a greater effect on attitudes toward exams. Experiment 2 revealed low (vs. high) pitch sounds from the keyboard participants used to write their thoughts produced the same effect on thought usage. Experiment 3 demonstrated that thoughts influenced attitudes more when listed while background music was low (vs. high) Pitch can influence attitudes through a meta-cognitive thought reliance process whether emerging from the recipient, channel, or context.

Unraveling the complexities of pathological voice through saliency analysis

The human voice is an essential communication tool, but various disorders and habits can disrupt it. Diagnosis of pathological and abnormal voices is very important. Conventional diagnosis of these voice pathologies can be invasive and costly. Voice pathology disorders can be effectively detected using Artificial Intelligence and computer-aided voice pathology classification tools. Previous studies focused primarily on binary classification, leaving limited attention to multi-class classification. This study proposes three different neural network architectures to investigate the feature characteristics of three voice pathologies-Hyperkinetic Dysphonia, Hypokinetic Dysphonia, Reflux Laryngitis, and healthy voices using multi-class classification and the Voice ICar fEDerico II (VOICED) dataset. The study proposes UNet++ autoencoder-based denoiser techniques for accurate feature extraction to overcome noisy data. The architectures include a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) trained on structured feature sets, a Short-Time Fourier Transform (STFT) model, and a Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC) model. The MLP model on 143 features achieved 97.1% accuracy, while the STFT model showed similar performance with increased sensitivity of 99.8%. The MFCC model maintained 97.1% accuracy but with a smaller model size and improved accuracy on the Reflux Laryngitis class. The study identifies crucial features through saliency analysis and reveals that detecting voice abnormalities requires the identification of regions of inaudible high-pitch sounds. Additionally, the study highlights the challenges posed by limited and disjointed pathological voice databases and proposes solutions for enhancing the performance of voice abnormality classification. Overall, the study’s findings have potential applications in clinical applications and specialized audio-capturing tools.

Crossmodal association between visual and acoustic cues in a tortoise (Testudo hermanni).

Humans spontaneously match information coming from different senses, in what we call crossmodal associations. For instance, high-pitched sounds are preferentially associated with small objects, and low-pitched sounds with larger ones. Although previous studies reported crossmodal associations in mammalian species, evidence for other taxa is scarce, hindering an evolutionary understanding of this phenomenon. Here, we provide evidence of pitch-size correspondence in a reptile, the tortoise Testudo hermanni. Tortoises showed a spontaneous preference to associate a small disc (i.e. visual information about size) with a high-pitch sound (i.e. auditory information) and a larger disc to a low-pitched sound. These results suggest that crossmodal associations may be an evolutionary ancient phenomenon, potentially an organizing principle of the vertebrate brain.

Evaluation of Short-Range Depth Sonifications for Visual-to-Auditory Sensory Substitution

Visual-to-auditory sensory substitution devices convert visual information into sound and can provide valuable assistance for blind people. Recent iterations of these devices rely on depth sensors. Rules for converting depth into sound (i.e., the sonifications) are often designed arbitrarily, with no strong evidence for choosing one over another. The purpose of this article is to compare and understand the effectiveness of five depth sonifications in order to assist the design process of future visual-to-auditory systems for blind people, which rely on depth sensors. The frequency, amplitude, and reverberation of the sound as well as the repetition rate of short high-pitched sounds and the signal-to-noise ratio of a mixture between pure sound and noise are studied. We conducted positioning experiments with 28 sighted blindfolded participants. Stage 1 incorporates learning phases followed by depth estimation tasks. Stage 2 adds the additional challenge of azimuth estimation to the first stage's protocol. Stage 3 tests learning retention by incorporating a 10-min break before retesting depth estimation. The best depth estimates in stage 1 were obtained with the sound frequency and the repetition rate of beeps. In stage 2, the beep repetition rate yielded the best depth estimation, and no significant difference was observed for the azimuth estimation. Results of stage 3 showed that the beep repetition rate was the easiest sonification to memorize. Based on the statistical analysis of the results, we discuss the effectiveness of each sonification and compare with other studies that encode depth into sounds. Finally, we provide recommendations for the design of depth encoding.

Effectiveness of 12-week Om chanting on reaction time and spatial and verbal memory

Background: Chanting Om was reported to increase the blood supply to brain structures involved in cognitive functions and improve cognition. Aim and Objectives: The present study was undertaken to observe the effectiveness of 12-week Om chanting on reaction time and spatial and verbal memory. Materials and Methods: Apparently, healthy volunteers (n=20; nine men and 11 women) who were right-handed and were consenting to participate in the study were recruited in the study. The age range of the subjects was 25–55 years. The intervention group participants were trained for reciting OM with the help of professional yoga instructor for a week days. After a week, they were instructed to assemble at the meditation hall of the institute at sharp 6:30 am every day and recite Om chanting for 20 min. Spatial and verbal memory was assessed using the standard methods explained in the literature that is spatial and verbal memory test. Auditory and visual reaction time was assessed using RT apparatus. Results: Spatial, verbal memory, and reaction time in control and intervention group participants were compared in this study. There was a significant improvement in the spatial memory scores in the intervention group when compared with control group. There was a significant improvement in the auditory reaction time for high and low pitch sounds and also visual reaction time for red and green light in the intervention group when compared with control group. Conclusion: The study results explain significant improvement in the spatial and verbal memory scores and auditory and visual reaction time after the intervention. The study recommends further detailed studies to support practicing Om chanting for the well-being of general population.

Adults Do Not Appropriately Consider Mass Cues of Object Brightness and Pitch Sound to Judge Outcomes of Collision Events

Adults judge darker objects to be heavier in weight than brighter objects, and objects which make lower pitch sounds as heavier in weight than objects making higher pitch sounds. It is unknown whether adults would make similar pairings if they saw these object properties in collision events. Two experiments examined adults’ judgements of computer-generated collision events based on object brightness and collision pitch sound. These experiments were designed as a precursor for an infant study, to validate the phenomenon. Results from the first experiment revealed that adults rated the bright ball likely event (where the bright ball displaced a stationary object a short distance after colliding with it) higher than the bright ball unlikely event. Conversely, adults rated the dark ball unlikely event (where the dark ball displaced a stationary object a short distance after colliding with it) higher than the dark ball likely event. Results from the second experiment demonstrated that adults judged the low pitch unlikely event (where the ball displaced a stationary object a short distance with a low pitch sound) higher than the low pitch likely event. Moreover, adults judged the high pitch likely event (where the ball displaced a stationary object a short distance with a high pitch sound) higher than the high pitch unlikely event. Results of these experiments suggest adults do not appropriately consider object brightness and pitch sound in collision events.

A study to observe the effectiveness of 10 days of Yoga program on reaction time and student’s perception of the introduction of Yoga training in the MBBS course curriculum

Yoga was introduced to the MBBS curriculum on 12 June 2022. There is a need to obtain the perceptions of the students about this introduction of yoga training in their curriculum.The present study was undertaken to observe the effectiveness of 10 days of the Yoga program on reaction time and to obtain the perceptions of first-year MBBS students about the introduction of Yoga training in the MBBS course curriculum. A total of 150 first-year MBBS students studying at R.D. Gardi Medical College were part of the study after obtaining the voluntary, written, informed consent. Willing participants who practiced yoga for 10 days as per the protocol of NMC were recruited in the present study. The common protocol for Yoga was prepared by the Morarji Desai Institute of Yoga under the Ministry of Ayush. Auditory reaction time for high and low pitch sounds, and visual reaction time for red and green light were recorded using the RT apparatus for research manufactured by Anand Agencies, Pune. Both right-hand and left-hand responses were recorded. A standard questionnaire was used to record the perceptions of the students about the introduction of Yoga training in the MBBS course curriculum. Both auditory and visual reaction times were decreased followed by the yoga program. The majority of the students agreed that yoga offers multiple beneficial effects. The majority of the students agreed that yoga practice has many psychological benefits. The majority of the students agreed that the overall effect of yoga was much beneficial. The majority of the students reported that major barriers were lack of motivation and lack of time for yoga. The majority of students agreed positively that the inclusion of yoga in the curriculum was beneficial to them.The present study results explained that there was a decrease in the reaction time followed by yoga practice. The majority of students invited the move by the apex body incorporating Yoga in the curriculum.

Lateralised dynamic modulations of corticomuscular coherence associated with bimanual learning of rhythmic patterns

Human movements are spontaneously attracted to auditory rhythms, triggering an automatic activation of the motor system, a central phenomenon to music perception and production. Cortico-muscular coherence (CMC) in the theta, alpha, beta and gamma frequencies has been used as an index of the synchronisation between cortical motor regions and the muscles. Here we investigated how learning to produce a bimanual rhythmic pattern composed of low- and high-pitch sounds affects CMC in the beta frequency band. Electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) from the left and right First Dorsal Interosseus and Flexor Digitorum Superficialis muscles were concurrently recorded during constant pressure on a force sensor held between the thumb and index finger while listening to the rhythmic pattern before and after a bimanual training session. During the training, participants learnt to produce the rhythmic pattern guided by visual cues by pressing the force sensors with their left or right hand to produce the low- and high-pitch sounds, respectively. Results revealed no changes after training in overall beta CMC or beta oscillation amplitude, nor in the correlation between the left and right sides for EEG and EMG separately. However, correlation analyses indicated that left- and right-hand beta EEG–EMG coherence were positively correlated over time before training but became uncorrelated after training. This suggests that learning to bimanually produce a rhythmic musical pattern reinforces lateralised and segregated cortico-muscular communication.

Virtual auscultation course via video chat in times of COVID-19 improves cardiac auscultation skills compared to literature self-study in third-year medical students: a prospective randomized controlled cross-over study

Background: Cardiac auscultation is a core clinical skill taught in medical school. Due to contact restrictions during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, interaction with patients was very limited. Therefore, a peer-to-peer virtual case-based auscultation course via video conference was established.Methods: A randomized controlled cross-over study was conducted to evaluate whether participation in a virtual auscultation course could improve heart auscultation skills in 3rd-year medical students. A total of sixty medical students were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group after informed consent was obtained. Due to no-shows, 55 students participated. Depending on allocation, students attended three ninety-minute courses in intervals of one week in a different order: a virtual case-based auscultation course held via video chat, literature self-study, and an on-site course using a high-fidelity auscultation simulator (SAM II). The study's primary endpoint was the performance of the two groups at the simulator after participating in the virtual auscultation course or literature self-study. To evaluate their auscultation skills, students participated in five assessments using the same six pathologies: stenosis and regurgitation of the aortic and mitral valve, ventricular septal defect, and patent ductus arteriosus. Moreover, participants rated their satisfaction with each course and provided a self-assessment of competence.Results: Compared to literature self-study, participation in the virtual auscultation course led to a significantly improved description of heart murmurs at the auscultation simulator with regard to the presence in systole and diastole, low- and high-pitched sounds, and volume dynamics. There was no significant difference between the groups in diagnostic accuracy and identification of the point of maximal intensity. After the virtual course, students showed higher satisfaction rates and a higher increase in self-assessed competence compared to participants who engaged in literature self-study.Conclusions: For the first time, this study demonstrates that a case-based virtual auscultation course can improve aspects of cardiac auscultation skills on a simulator. This may facilitate the further acquisition of an essential clinical skill, even when contact restrictions will be lifted.

Relationship between voice handicap index and reflux symptom index in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux with dysphonia: A cross-sectional study

Background/Aim: Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LFR) occurs due to the backward traveling of gastric contents through the esophagus, resulting in their contact with the upper respiratory tract and laryngopharynx. It has been determined that more than 50% of patients presenting with voice hoarseness may have a pathology associated with such reflux. Symptoms including hoarseness, difficulty in making high-pitched sounds, and a tired and cracked voice may occur due to changes in the vocal cord mucosa induced by the reflux. The present study investigated the relationship between the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) and Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) evaluations of patients with significant findings for LFR. Methods: Patients with an RSI score of 13 and above and RFS of 7 and above, considered significant for LFR, and patients aged between 18 and 65 years, who met the mandatory requirements, were included in the study. The patients included in the study were divided into three groups, mildly impaired (MII), moderately impaired (MOI), and severely impaired (SEI) based on their response to the question, “How do you feel about your voice?’’ VHI-10 was also applied to the patients included in the study. The RSI and VHI-10 scores of the patients were separately recorded and compared using various parameters. Results: Of the 38 patients included in the study, 18 (47.4%) were female and 20 (52.6%) were male. It was observed that RSI and VHI-10 scores increased significantly as the patients' level of voice disorder increased (P

High-pitch sounds small for domestic dogs: abstract crossmodal correspondences between auditory pitch and visual size.

Humans possess intuitive associations linking certain non-redundant features of stimuli—e.g. high-pitched sounds with small object size (or similarly, low-pitched sounds with large object size). This phenomenon, known as crossmodal correspondence, has been identified in humans across multiple different senses. There is some evidence that non-human animals also form crossmodal correspondences, but the known examples are mostly limited to the associations between the pitch of vocalizations and the size of callers. To investigate whether domestic dogs, like humans, show abstract pitch-size association, we first trained dogs to approach and touch an object after hearing a sound emanating from it. Subsequently, we repeated the task but presented dogs with two objects differing in size, only one of which was playing a sound. The sound was either high or low pitched, thereby creating trials that were either congruent (high pitch from small object; low pitch from large objects) or incongruent (the reverse). We found that dogs reacted faster on congruent versus incongruent trials. Moreover, their accuracy was at chance on incongruent trials, but significantly above chance for congruent trials. Our results suggest that non-human animals show abstract pitch sound correspondences, indicating these correspondences may not be uniquely human but rather a sensory processing feature shared by other species.

Microwave Auditory Effects Among U.S. Government Personnel Reporting Directional Audible and Sensory Phenomena in Havana

The mysterious incidents on diplomatic and intelligence personnel began in 2016. Since then, nearly 200 incidents have been reported. The illnesses and symptoms are called Havana Syndrome, named for the city where cases were first reported. The initial accounts from Havana include hearing of loud high-pitched sounds, localizing the sources as coming from above or behind the head, experiencing a directional sound that ceases if one steps away, the covering of ears not making any difference, some hearing the sound but others in the same room not hearing it, or hearing it in one part of a room but not in other areas. Assuming the reported symptoms and accounts are consistent, the microwave auditory effect provides a scientific explanation for Havana Syndrome.

Crossmodal Correspondence Between Auditory Timbre and Visual Shape.

Crossmodal correspondences are defined as associations between crossmodal stimuli based on seemingly irrelevant stimulus features (i.e., bright shapes being associated with high-pitched sounds). There is a large body of research describing auditory crossmodal correspondences involving pitch and volume, but not so much involving auditory timbre, the character or quality of a sound. Adeli and colleagues (2014, Front. Hum. Neurosci. 8, 352) found evidence of correspondences between timbre and visual shape. The present study aimed to replicate Adeli et al.'s findings, as well as identify novel timbre-shape correspondences. Participants were tested using two computerized tasks: an association task, which involved matching shapes to presented sounds based on best perceived fit, and a semantic task, which involved rating shapes and sounds on a number of scales. The analysis of association matches reveals nonrandom selection, with certain stimulus pairs being selected at a much higher frequency. The harsh/jagged and smooth/soft correspondences observed by Adeli et al. were found to be associated with a high level of consistency. Additionally, high matching frequency of sounds with unstudied timbre characteristics suggests the existence of novel correspondences. Finally, the ability of the semantic task to supplement existing crossmodal correspondence assessments was demonstrated. Convergent analysis of the semantic and association data demonstrates that the two datasets are significantly correlated (-0.36) meaning stimulus pairs associated with a high level of consensus were more likely to hold similar perceived meaning. The results of this study are discussed in both theoretical and applied contexts.

Affordable ML Based Collaborative Approach for Baby Monitoring

There are numerous baby-monitoring devices available in the market that parents use to keep an eye on babies while they are away. The majority of them are reliant on the installation of expensive hardware, which many parents cannot afford. Another issue with these devices is that they detect high-pitched sounds and frequently give false alarms, causing both children and parents to be disturbed. The majority of smartphone applications in the market work on sound wave and only sound an alarm when the infant start crying. In this project, we proposed the design of a mobile application to detect the status of a baby inside a crib/ on a bed. The application will alert parents when their child requires assistance, will be able to determine whether the child is sleeping in a safe or hazardous position, and will keep track of the child's sleeping patterns. It is less reliant on hardware, making it less expensive. Here the only requirement is two paired mobile phones with the application installed instead of expensive hardware (IoT-based devices). The application is utilizing the transfer-learning technique on tensor flow lite Mobilenet classification and SSD_mobilenet_V1_coco object detection models. The accuracy of the model is 97% for the Mobilenet classification model and 98% for the object detection model.