Acoustic and physiologic characteristics of inspiratory phonation.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Small observational physiological laboratory study in healthy subjects
PubMed 9301061 · doi:10.1121/1.420090
What was done
Sixteen healthy men and women were evaluated while alternating between inspiratory and expiratory phonation. Vocal fundamental frequency (F0), electroglottographic (EGG) contact patterns and perturbation, and absolute phonatory airflow were measured. Stroboscopic examination of laryngeal positioning and vocal fold length was performed in a subset of four participants.
What was found
Mean F0 increased during inspiratory voice by an average of 5.1 semitones above comfortable expiratory frequency. Absolute airflow was on average 48.5% higher during inspiratory voice. EGG showed a more symmetrical vocal fold contact pattern with a prolonged interval of increasing contact, alongside significantly higher short-term F0 variability (jitter) and EGG amplitude perturbation. Stroboscopy in four subjects showed caudal displacement of the larynx and lengthened vocal folds.
Why it matters
This study provides baseline acoustic, electroglottographic, and aerodynamic parameters of ingressive phonation, establishing physiological reference points for its potential application in clinical vocal function assessment.
Limits
The study is limited by a small sample size (n = 16 overall, n = 4 for stroboscopy), inclusion of only healthy individuals without dysphonia, and absence of exact variance metrics or p-values in the abstract.
Cited by
- contradicts Human speech production requires exhaling airflow, making it impossible to produce normal speech sounds or filler words while inhaling.