Articles tagged with Larynx
Horses produce high-frequency sounds by whistling through their larynx while vibrating vocal folds. Researchers found that the high-frequency component of the whinny is generated by a laryngeal whistle, shifting to higher frequencies when helium is used.
Research suggests climate change is contributing to the increase in allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever. Global warming has been linked to longer pollen seasons and higher pollen concentrations, leading to increased symptoms and healthcare usage.
Researchers discovered how monkeys produce 'voice breaks' and 'ultra-yodels' using their vocal membranes, which allow for a wider range of calls. These unique vocalizations enable monkeys to communicate in different ways, particularly in complex social lives.
A phase 2b clinical trial found that sodium oxybate, an oral medication mimicking alcohol's effects, significantly improves symptoms of patients with laryngeal dystonia who respond to alcohol. The treatment provided up to 5 hours of voice relief, with no serious adverse events.
Researchers found that patients with throat symptoms had reduced baroreflex sensitivity and higher resting heart rates compared to those without symptoms. The study suggests that throat problems can have a significant impact on autonomic nervous system function, potentially leading to long-term survival risks.
Mayo Clinic's surgical team successfully performed the rare procedure, which included multiple organs, on a Massachusetts man with a rare form of laryngeal cancer. The landmark surgery, conducted as part of a clinical trial, marks a significant step towards making larynx transplantation available to a wider population.
Researchers discovered lemurs possess an additional pair of vocal folds, which they believe is responsible for enriching their vocal repertoire and allowing them to exaggerate their size. This adaptation may have provided a selective advantage in competition for territory or mates.
Researchers at UCSF have identified laryngeal and tracheal neuroendocrine cells that sense water and acid in the upper airway, triggering a cough reflex. The discovery could lead to interventions to prevent pneumonia and treat certain types of chronic cough.
Baleen whales developed novel larynx structures to produce low-frequency vocalizations, but these adaptations limit their communication range. Human-made noise masks their voices, reducing their ability to communicate over vast distances.
Researchers demonstrate the potential of optical imaging for safely measuring vocal fold elasticity and pliability. The study found good agreement between Brillouin microspectroscopy results and conventional elasticity measurements.
Researchers found that anatomical variations in a speaker's vocal tract affect speech production, with factors such as horizontal and vertical length, head inclination, and hard palate shape influencing vowel frequencies. The study suggests that understanding anatomy is crucial for producing speech.
A new study reveals that bats use the same technique as human death metal singers and throat singing members to produce sounds. Bats can span 7 octaves with their vocal range, surpassing most mammals. The research team filmed what happens in a bat's larynx when producing sound, showing heavy vocal folds vibrating at low frequencies.
Researchers from Kaunas University of Technology and Lithuanian University of Health Sciences developed an AI-based system to evaluate the 'substitute voice' of laryngectomy patients, allowing for faster detection of pathologies. The Acoustic Substitution Voice Index (ASVI) uses acoustic parameters and artificial intelligence methods t...
Researchers studied the larynx of Daubenton's bats and found that different structures are used for high-frequency echolocation calls and lower-frequency social calls. The study reveals that bat vocalizations can be compared to death metal growls, highlighting the animals' unique ability to produce a wide range of sounds.
Researchers found that human larynx evolution led to stable voices and controlled pitch without adding new structures. This simplification allowed for the development of complex vocal information, enabling humans to communicate effectively.
Researchers mapped neural networks in marmoset and macaque monkeys to find that multiple areas in the frontal lobe control vocalization, contradicting a long-held view. This discovery could lead to a better understanding of speech disorders such as stuttering and apraxia.
Researchers discovered that lunge-feeding whales have an 'oral plug' in their mouths, which seals off the upper airways during feeding. This mechanism prevents water from entering their lungs and allows them to gulp down large amounts of krill without drowning.
Researchers found that the oral plug, a structure in fin whales, blocks the pharynx and prevents water from entering during lunge feeding. This allows the whale to swallow prey while keeping the respiratory tract protected.
A study published in Scientific Reports suggests that mountain gorillas use chest beats to convey information about their body size, allowing identification of individuals. The sound frequencies of chest beats made by larger males were significantly lower than those made by smaller males.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed tissue-engineered components to support larynx reconstruction after cancer or trauma. The implants utilize customized engineered tissue replacements with dynamic muscle component fabricated from patient's own cells.
Researchers found that primates have evolved larger, more variable larynges with faster adaptation rates compared to carnivores. This difference is linked to vocal communication systems, suggesting a key role for the larynx in primate behavior.
The study found that primate larynges are on average 38% larger than those of carnivorans for a given body length, indicating greater flexibility in evolution. The rate of larynx evolution is also faster in primates, with more variation in larynx size relative to body size.
Researchers used CT scans and 3D printing to recreate the vocal tract of a 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy, producing a single sound that falls between 'bed' and 'bad'. The achievement has implications for understanding past voices and presentation in the present.
Researchers challenge the theory of a descended larynx, which proposes that speech can only emerge with the larynx in a low position. However, monkeys produce well-differentiated proto-vowels, suggesting control of articulators is key to vocalization. This finding opens up new perspectives on the emergence of articulated speech.
A study of over 800 patients with laryngeal cancer found a significant risk of the disease associated with persistent sore throats combined with other symptoms. The research aims to improve early detection and treatment outcomes for cancer patients.
Researchers discovered how the brain encodes speech production, finding that it controls both goals (speech sounds) and individual movements (lip, tongue, and larynx movements). This breakthrough aims to develop better brain machine interfaces to decode speech for paralyzed individuals.
Researchers discover birds evolved a new vocal organ, syrinx, instead of modifying an existing one. The syrinx raises questions about changes in bird vocalization over time and sheds light on mechanisms driving new structure development.
A study examining the windpipes of birds, crocodiles, salamanders, mice, and cats found deep similarities in the presence of a reinforced airway structure, suggesting that the syrinx may have evolved for structural support. This challenges the long-held assumption that the syrinx is an evolutionary odd duck.
Scientists discovered that polyps of the marine hydrozoan Ectopleura larynx allow genetically unrelated individuals to fuse their bodies and share skin and stomachs. This unique behavior provides survival advantages in a competitive ocean environment.
A study published in Cell found that a specific region of the brain's frontal lobe controls vocal pitch, enabling humans to convey meaning through speech and language. By examining neural activity and using brain sensors, researchers identified increased activity in this region when participants altered their voice pitch.
A new study by UC San Francisco scientists reveals the brain area responsible for controlling vocal pitch in humans. The dorsal laryngeal motor cortex is found to govern the 'music' of speech, enabling flexible control over pitch fluctuations during speech.
Researchers developed a new surgical technique for recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN), improving outcomes and helping horses breathe easier. The toggle technique provides a stronger anchor point on the paralyzed cartilage, giving afflicted horses a higher quality of life.
The American Academy of Otolaryngology has released an updated guideline for treating hoarseness, recommending earlier evaluation by an otolaryngologist and discouraging the use of unnecessary medications. The guidelines aim to reduce variation in care and improve patient outcomes.
A novel method to accurately diagnose exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) in swimmers has been developed. The technique uses a flexible laryngoscope secured with waterproof tape, providing stable high-quality diagnostic images of the larynx during exercise.
The Journal of Creative Music Systems features research on artificial intelligence in music, including harmonisation and vocal synthesis. The first issue has received an overwhelming response from contributors worldwide.
Researchers at the University of Kent have developed a new method to extend the life of silicone voice prostheses for throat cancer patients by treating a common fungal infection. By addressing Candida albicans, patients can now carry on using their voice prosthesis for longer, reducing the risk of secondary chest infections.
Researchers discovered that mice create ultrasound by directing a small air jet against the inner wall of their larynx, producing an ultrasonic whistle. This innovative mechanism has implications for understanding social sounds in rodents and potentially even human speech disorders.
Scientists found that the range of frequencies produced by vocal cords depends on their stretchiness and stiffness. This discovery has implications for treating damaged vocal cords and improving singing techniques. The researchers used data from 16 species, including humans, to develop a model that explains how the cord's properties af...
Researchers at the University of Utah have discovered that vocal cords can be stretched and stiffened to predict an animal's pitch range, revealing evolutionary roots of voice. The study suggests that singers can increase their ranges by stretching their vocal cords or engaging in exercises that affect fiber spacing and cord stiffness.
A new study published in Nature Communications shows that light can be used to stimulate larynx muscles in mice, a potential breakthrough for treating laryngeal paralysis. The researchers used Channelrhodopsins, exotic molecules that open ion channels when illuminated, to create static and dynamic contractions.
Researchers developed a high-speed MRI technique to visualize laryngeal movement in detail. This breakthrough enables studies on the aging voice and potential interventions like vocal training.
A study published in Chromatographia found that certain volatile organic compounds, including ethanol and 2-butanone, are higher in individuals with larynx cancer. These compounds may serve as potential markers for the disease, offering an alternative to traditional biomarkers.
Researchers have discovered a specialized sound-producing organ in koalas, located outside the voice box, which enables extremely low-pitched mating calls. The organ produces continuous sounds on inhalation and exhalation, similar to a donkey's braying.
Researchers studied elephant vocal folds to understand how they produce infrasonic calls. They found that elephant vocal folds are orientated at a very acute angle in relation to the air stream, whereas in humans they are almost perpendicular.
Biophysicist Christian Herbst develops a new method to visualize chaotic phenomena, creating a single graph that can intuitively interpret symptoms of systems 'on the way to chaos'. The phasegram technique reveals complex behavior in simple systems, such as weather and cardiac rhythm.
Researchers discovered that elephants produce infrasounds by vibrating their large larynxes, similar to the human voice. This finding reveals the physical production mechanism behind these subaudible sounds, which play a crucial role in elephant communication and social life.
A study found racial disparities in larynx preservation therapy for cancer, with black patients having lower rates of treatment compared to white patients. The use of radiation with chemotherapy as initial treatment has become more widespread, but disparities persist among black patients with stage IV disease.
Researchers found that lip smacks made by monkeys share similarities with speech movements and are more complex than previously thought. These findings support the idea that human speech evolved from primate facial signals rather than vocalizations.
Massachusetts General Hospital surgeons developed a new technique using cryopreserved aortas to reconstruct the larynx, allowing patients to maintain voice and swallowing function without immunosuppressive medications. The procedure was successful in removing postoperative tracheotomy tubes and resuming breathing normally.
Researchers found that male koalas produce lower resonances in their bellows, which may be related to the length of their vocal tracts. The team also discovered that koalas can make themselves sound larger than they are by using simultaneous resonance in their oral and nasal tracts.
Speech-language pathology researchers at the University of Missouri are studying Hindustani and classical singing styles to develop a treatment for laryngeal tremors. By understanding the physiology behind voluntary and involuntary pitch fluctuation, they aim to find a cure for this vocal disorder associated with neurological disorders.
A recent study found that larynx preservation treatments using chemotherapy followed by radiation have a low-risk of severe voice disability, with only 15% of patients experiencing severe vocal impairment. The treatment also resulted in minimal eating or swallowing problems, with 57% of patients unaffected.
Researchers at the University of Western Ontario used state-of-the-art micro-computed tomography systems to collect detailed 3D scans of bat internal anatomy. The study identified a unique bone connection that distinguishes bats using laryngeal echolocation from those using tongue clicks.
A randomized controlled trial found that a 3-drug chemotherapy combination of docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) increased organ preservation rates in patients with locally advanced larynx cancer. Compared to the single-agent TPF, the addition of docetaxel improved larynx function and overall response rates.
A randomized controlled trial found that alternating cycles of chemotherapy and radiation have similar outcomes to sequential chemotherapy followed by radiation in treating larynx cancer. The study showed no significant difference in clinical outcomes between the two treatment groups.
Research shows that female fallow deer are attracted to deep calls from dominant males, who also have higher mating success. The study found a link between the depth of the call and body size, suggesting size exaggeration may be an evolutionary trait.
Researchers found that female túngara frogs are attracted to males producing complex 'whine chuck' calls. By surgically removing fibrous masses in the males' larynx, scientists discovered a unique connection between these structures and call complexity.
Research suggests that laryngeal immune cells have a crucial role in tolerating inhaled antigens, screening for cancer cells, and preventing asthma. The study aims to understand how the lining responds to acid reflux or LPR and explore new diagnostic tools and treatments.
A team of psychologists studied 1024 laughter episodes from young adults watching funny video clips. They found interesting sex differences in laugh types and pitches, with women producing more song-like laughs than men. Laughter is surprisingly high-pitched, with some laughs reaching frequencies of over 2,000 Hz.
A new partial voice box resection procedure shows excellent local control and significant improvement in quality of life for patients with intermediate to advanced stage larynx cancers. This approach can provide a less drastic treatment option, reducing hardship on patients.