Articles tagged with Speech
Researchers Andrea Bowes and Albert Katz found that people are better able to infer the mental and emotional state of others after reading metaphors. This is because metaphors activate embodied social experiences, making it easier to understand others' emotions and mental states.
Researchers aim to enhance speech signals and classify background noise using powerful smartphone processors and machine learning algorithms. The project has the potential to create a wide collection of smartphone apps for use with hearing aid devices.
A new study found that older adults with musical training were 20% faster at identifying speech sounds than non-musicians. The research suggests that music instruction can enhance brain areas supporting speech recognition, even in old age. Music training may help counteract cognitive decline and improve auditory processing abilities.
Children who actively participated in music classes showed greater gains in speech processing and reading scores compared to less-involved peers. Music training improved neural benefits in the same areas of the brain traditionally weak in disadvantaged children.
Sheila E. Blumstein received the Silver Medal in Speech Communication from the Acoustical Society of America for her work on how acoustic signals are transformed into linguistic representations. She has made significant contributions to our understanding of speech processing and neural systems.
Researchers found dogs process human speech in left- and right-hemisphere biases, similar to humans. Dogs respond differently to familiar commands and intonation cues, suggesting they pay attention to both who and how we communicate.
Researchers have developed a new diagnostic technique using songbird courtship calls to safely map the human brain during complex neurosurgery. The technique, called focal intraoperative cooling, involves cooling specific regions of the brain while patients undergo surgery, reducing surgical risk for epilepsy and brain tumor patients.
Researchers found a correlation between depression and certain acoustic properties in patients' speech, including breathier tone and increased jitter and shimmer. A phone app could use this information to analyze patients' speech and provide feedback and support.
A study by Rosario Signorello found that speakers with a wide range of frequency variation in their voices are more likely to be perceived as dominant. The researchers also discovered that speakers with a low fundamental rate of vocal fold vibration are perceived as more dominant than those with high F0 frequencies.
A CU-Boulder study suggests that modern hearing aids can distort music due to advanced processing designed for speech. Researchers found that simpler hearing aids with minimal processing allowed users to enjoy music more, despite reduced sound quality.
A new study found that patients who experience a stroke in the hospital wait longer for treatment and are less likely to receive clot-busting drugs compared to those who have a stroke outside of the hospital. This delay can lead to longer hospital stays, disability, and worse outcomes.
A new study analyzing Saddam Hussein's private transcripts reveals a striking similarity between his public and private beliefs on international affairs. The researchers found that while public speeches were often straightforward, private discussions exhibited more complexity and nuanced views, particularly on the US, Iran, and Israel.
A study published in Ear and Hearing reveals that prolonged exposure to loud noise can lead to permanent damage of the hair cells in the ear. This damage affects the brain's recognition of speech sounds, potentially increasing difficulty in distinguishing them. The researchers used rats to simulate two types of noise trauma and found t...
Researchers developed a game that trained both mice and humans to enhance their ability to discriminate soft sounds in noisy backgrounds. Trained subjects showed improved speech processing skills, even in high levels of background noise.
A study by University of Miami researcher Casey Klofstad found that vocal fry is perceived negatively, particularly in labor market contexts, affecting women's hiring prospects. Women who use vocal fry are seen as less attractive, competent, educated, trustworthy, and ultimately less hirable than those with normal speech.
A new UT Dallas study explores how infants process degraded speech with cochlear implants, revealing they need more complete speech information to maximize communication outcomes. Infants can distinguish between familiar and new sounds, but require less distortion and more frequency information than older children and adults.
A study found that more than half of US women identified sudden weakness as a stroke warning sign, but fewer recognized other symptoms like difficulty speaking or vision loss. Hispanic women were less likely to know most stroke signs.
A recent study by the University of Manchester found that only 2.1% of adults with significant hearing problems use a hearing aid. The study revealed that approximately one in 10 middle-aged adults have substantial hearing difficulties, particularly those from working-class or ethnic minority backgrounds.
A study of oropharyngeal cancer patients reveals that radiation therapy can cause significant voice and speech problems. Limiting the radiation dose to the glottic larynx reduces these issues, suggesting a potential strategy for improving post-treatment quality of life.
A new study from the USC Marshall School of Business found that sharing feelings with someone having a similar emotional response to a threatening situation can help decrease stress. By discussing their emotions, individuals can experience reduced levels of stress-related hormones like cortisol.
A new study from the University of Texas at Austin found that parents who give their children similar-sounding names are more likely to mistakenly call them by another family member's or pet's name. The researchers discovered that physical and personality similarities between siblings also contribute to these errors.
The 88th Annual Meeting of the Linguistic Society of America will take place in Minneapolis, featuring cutting-edge research on various aspects of language. Researchers will present papers and posters on topics such as dialect features in social media, differences in Black and White American Sign Language, and changes in accent over time.
New research shows Valley Girl dialect, known for rising pitch at the ends of sentences, is expanding to other demographic groups, including males. The study identified distinct melodic vocal patterns distinguishing uptalk questions from statements, busting stereotypes about insecurity and non-intellectualism associated with the dialect.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a potential breakthrough in solving the 'cocktail party problem' by using neural networks to filter out background noise. The technology improves comprehension for the hearing-impaired, with scores increasing from 10% to 90%, and is being commercialized for license.
A recent study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that older adults who took music lessons as children have a faster brain response to a speech sound than those who never played an instrument. The study suggests that early musical training has a lasting, positive effect on how the brain processes sound.
Children who speak dual-marking languages grasp the concept of 'two' earlier than English-speaking counterparts and learn number words faster. The study suggests that naturalistic speech is critical to number word learning, but teaching routines are still necessary for later math performance.
A study published in The Journal of Neuroscience suggests that people who can move to a beat show more consistent brain responses to speech than those with less rhythm. The findings imply that musical training could improve the brain's response to language.
A Northwestern University study of over 100 high school students found a significant link between music, beat-keeping and language skills. Accurate beat-keeping involves synchronization between the parts of the brain responsible for hearing and movement.
Researchers at the University of Strathclyde are working to better understand how cerebral palsy affects children's speech. They hope to develop more effective treatments by analyzing speech patterns in over 40 affected youngsters.
A new study by UC researcher Andrew Lewis explores the connection between the Southern Baptist Convention's stance on abortion and its advocacy for free speech rights. The research reveals how the SBC's approach to cultural battles has significant consequences, particularly when it comes to shaping the legal landscape.
A new study by Mark Scott suggests that corollary discharge, a predictive brain signal, plays a crucial role in our experiences of internal speech. The findings indicate that the internal copy of our voice produced by corollary discharge can be generated even without external sound, making us believe we hear ourselves speak.
Researchers developed MACH software to help individuals improve their interpersonal skills through simulated conversations. The system uses facial and speech analysis to provide objective feedback, leading to statistically significant improvements in performance and perceived competence.
Researchers studied how speakers from central Ohio pronounce 'for' and 'for a,' finding that Neil Armstrong's quote is highly compatible with either interpretation. The study sheds light on understanding how people perceive meaning in spoken language.
A new study found that high levels of OR noise can have a disruptive effect on a surgeon's auditory processing abilities and cause a decrease in speech comprehension. The researchers tested 15 surgeons with varying years of experience under different listening conditions, including quiet, filtered noise, background noise, and music.
Research by University of Cincinnati's Jeff Blevins examines eight US Supreme Court cases over a 30-year period defining corporate speech rights. The study reveals that court decisions have dramatically extended power under the First Amendment, marking a new 'gilded age' of free speech.
Geladas' vocal lip-smacks exhibit speech-like undulating rhythms, matching human speech patterns. This finding supports the idea that lip-smacking could be an evolutionary step toward human speech.
A new Ohio University study found that dwelling on stressful events increases levels of inflammation in the body, which can lead to chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. The study recruited 34 healthy young women who were asked to give a speech about their candidacy for a job while others thought about neutral images.
Researchers discovered that brain waves are shaped to selectively track sound patterns from a single speaker while excluding competing sounds. This finding could have important implications for individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and aging.
A Georgia Tech student analyzed 60 years of Academy Awards acceptance speeches to identify patterns and trends, including the anatomy of a typical speech and the frequency of certain phrases. She found that nearly every speech closes with 'thank you,' but only half of winners use the iconic phrase.
A person's style of speech, including the pronunciation of 's' sounds and vocal resonance, affects how listeners perceive their gender. According to CU-Boulder researcher Lal Zimman, a higher pitch can still be perceived as male if the speaker pronounces 's' sounds in a lower frequency.
A study published in Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience found that emotion in voices enhances initial word recognition, but does not improve long-term memory. The researchers discovered that emotionally intoned speech can lead to the acquisition of emotional value, making words more negatively charged in the mind.
A new diagnostic method for Parkinson's disease is noninvasive and effective in over 90% of cases. The method tracks speech patterns to detect the disorder's early signs.
Researchers found that Koshik can mimic five Korean words: 'annyong' (hello), 'anja' (sit down), 'aniya' (no), 'nuo' (lie down), and 'choah' (good). The elephant's language skills may provide insights into the biology of complex vocal learning, crucial for human speech and music.
Researchers have identified a genetic biomarker for presbycusis, a condition that affects hearing and speech processing in older adults. The discovery could aid in prevention measures and offer hope for early intervention.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a system that converts speech input into passwords, reducing the risk of fraudsters obtaining voice biometric data. The system uses different mathematical functions to generate hundreds of alphanumeric strings, providing an additional level of security.
Leaders' expressions of anger, contempt, and disgust in speeches may predict violent acts. Analysis found a significant increase in these emotions before aggression, while decreases were seen before nonviolent resistance. The findings suggest a leader's emotional tone can motivate their group to take part in violent actions.
Scientists at UCLA and the Technion have identified two brain regions that encode vowel pronunciation. The discovery may lead to new technology that verbalizes unspoken words of people paralyzed by injury or disease.
Scientists at UCLA and the Technion have unraveled how our brain cells encode vowel pronunciation in speech. They found two distinct areas in the brain responsible for this process, one responding to all vowels and another firing exclusively for specific vowels.
Scientists identified a key neural mechanism causing dyslexia, which can be traced back to a malfunction of the medial geniculate body. This discovery provides a foundation for developing potential treatments and compensating strategies for individuals with dyslexia.
Infants as young as one year old can detect how speech communicates unobservable intentions, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. By recognizing patterns in spoken descriptions, infants can acquire knowledge about matters beyond their direct experiences.
The UK Space Agency has launched its Civil Space Strategy, aiming to capture 10% of the global space market by 2030. The strategy focuses on creating new opportunities for industry, bolstering the role of space in the UK's infrastructure, and furthering national space technology.
A new cross-cultural study shows that tonal trends used to express feelings in music are consistent across cultures and parallel those used in speech expressing similar emotions. The authors conclude that music's emotional expression is due to its imitation of vocal characteristics.
Chinese Minister of Health Dr. Zhu Chen will hold talks with leading cancer researchers from the US and China to develop a stronger platform for Sino-US research collaboration. The goal is to fast-track cancer research and create deeper ties among researchers.
A UBC researcher has created a hand-controlled voice synthesizer that uses gestures to produce sounds, mirroring human vocal control. The technology has potential applications in music and assistive communication, allowing users to express themselves in new ways.
Researchers have successfully decoded electrical activity in a human auditory system region, reconstructing words from normal conversation. This breakthrough could help patients with speech damage due to strokes or diseases like Lou Gehrig's, enabling them to communicate again.
A new study from Northwestern University found that older musicians have a distinct neural timing advantage, encoding sound stimuli as quickly and accurately as younger non-musicians. This suggests that music training can help overcome age-related hearing loss and improve communication in complex environments.
Researchers found an abnormality in the early steps of auditory processing in the brain, called 'sampling', linked to dyslexia. Dyslexics exhibited enhanced responses to high-frequency rhythms that interfered with verbal memory.
Researchers found that the structure of lion and tiger vocal folds, including fat and viscoelastic properties, determines the low-frequency roars. The study challenges previous assumptions about the causes of loud roaring in these big cats.
A recent study by University of Chicago Press Journals found that political debate can sometimes decrease the impact of subsequent ads. Researchers discovered that inducing supportive elaborations increased ad effectiveness, while counterarguing mindset decreased it. This suggests context plays a significant role in advertising efficacy
Researchers found that declines in hearing ability accelerate gray matter atrophy in auditory areas of the brain, leading to increased listening effort for speech comprehension. Early detection and intervention can help prevent speech comprehension difficulties in older adults.