Re: [AUDITORY] Scream spectrum (Erik Larsen )


Subject: Re: [AUDITORY] Scream spectrum
From:    Erik Larsen  <elarsen@xxxxxxxx>
Date:    Thu, 9 Feb 2017 03:14:10 +0000
List-Archive:<http://lists.mcgill.ca/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=AUDITORY>

--94eb2c1497b4930eb2054810605d Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable As has been remarked previously in this thread, speech in general has a lot of energy in the single-digit kHz range, so having good hearing sensitivity at those frequencies would be advantageous. Whether the vocal tract or the ear canal evolved to become optimized towards the other, or whether both evolved towards one another, or whether it was already optimized by coincidence, might be hard to prove. One could look at a range of animals that depend on vocal communication for survival and see if the relationship holds. The photoreceptors in our eyes are sensitive to a frequency range where the sun emits the highest intensity of radiation, so there is a precedent for source and receiver to be adapted to each other (although the situation is slightly different in hearing). On Wed, Feb 8, 2017 at 12:50 AM Matthew Winn <mwinn2@xxxxxxxx> wrote: > It=E2=80=99s tempting to draw a connection between the ~3 kHz resonance o= f the > voice and the ~3 kHz resonance of the ear canal. There are two reasons wh= y > I am reluctant to think too much of this coincidence: > > > First, if we take the evolutionary point of view, I would guess that we > should be more interested in the screams of *babies* than adults. And giv= en > the smaller size of babies=E2=80=99 vocal tracts, I would no longer expec= t their > peak resonance to align with that of our ear canal. > > > Second, while the ear canal peak is prominent (enough that we audiologist= s > need to compensate for it while fitting any hearing aid that occludes the > canal), our system is chronically calibrated to it. Yes, there is a > resonance, but the resonance is there to amplify that 2-5 kHz region for > *all* sounds, so all broadband sounds should be equally affected. It is > much more elegant in my opinion to frame perception as perception of > *change* rather than perception of static spectral peaks; obviously this = is > not my own original idea. One of the more impressive experimenters in thi= s > line of work in the auditory sciences is Christian Stilp, whose work is > described here: https://louisville.edu/psychology/stilp/lab/research > > > > Given these thoughts, I am more likely to marvel at the pleasant > coincidence of resonance frequencies, but with a healthy dose of =E2=80= =9Caw > shucks=E2=80=9D rather than a press release or quest to support a particu= lar > narrative. > > Matt > > > -------------------------------------------------------------- > Matthew Winn, Au.D., Ph.D. > Assistant Professor > Dept. of Speech & Hearing Sciences > University of Washington > > On Mon, Feb 6, 2017 at 12:56 PM, Huron, David <huron.1@xxxxxxxx> wrote: > > Dear collective wisdom, > > I recall reading somewhere (long ago) that most human screams exhibit a > spectral peak in the 3 kHz region (more broadly, 2-5 kHz) coinciding with > the threshold dip due to the ear canal resonance. The implication is tha= t > screams are co-adapted to the most sensitive region of human hearing. > > Can anyone point me to a suitable reference? Even literature reporting > power spectrum data for human screams would be useful. > > David Huron > > > --94eb2c1497b4930eb2054810605d Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr">As has been remarked previously in this thread, speech in = general has a lot of energy in the single-digit kHz range, so having good h= earing sensitivity at those frequencies would be advantageous. Whether the = vocal tract or the ear canal evolved to become optimized towards the other,= or whether both evolved towards one another, or whether it was already opt= imized by coincidence, might be hard to prove. One could look at a range of= animals that depend on vocal communication for survival and see if the rel= ationship holds.<div><br></div><div>The photoreceptors in our eyes are sens= itive to a frequency range where the sun emits the highest intensity of rad= iation, so there is a precedent for source and receiver to be adapted to ea= ch other (although the situation is slightly different in hearing).</div></= div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr">On Wed, Feb 8, 2017 at = 12:50 AM Matthew Winn &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:mwinn2@xxxxxxxx">mwinn2@xxxxxxxx</a= >&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0= 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr" class= =3D"gmail_msg"><p class=3D"MsoNormal gmail_msg">It=E2=80=99s tempting to dr= aw a connection between the ~3 kHz resonance of the voice and the ~3 kHz resonance of the ear canal. There are= two reasons why I am reluctant to think too much of this coincidence:<span clas= s=3D"gmail_msg"></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal gmail_msg"><br class=3D"gmail_msg"></p><p class=3D"Ms= oNormal gmail_msg">First, if we take the evolutionary point of view, I woul= d guess that we should be more interested in the screams of *babies* than adu= lts. And given the smaller size of babies=E2=80=99 vocal tracts, I would no long= er expect their peak resonance to align with that of our ear canal. <span class=3D"gm= ail_msg"></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal gmail_msg"><br class=3D"gmail_msg"></p><p class=3D"Ms= oNormal gmail_msg">Second, while the ear canal peak is prominent (enough th= at we audiologists need to compensate for it while fitting any hearing aid tha= t occludes the canal), our system is chronically calibrated to it. Yes, there= is a resonance, but the resonance is there to amplify that 2-5 kHz region for *all* sounds, so all broadband sounds should be equally affected. It is muc= h more elegant in my opinion to frame perception as perception of *change* ra= ther than perception of static spectral peaks; obviously this is not my own orig= inal idea. One of the more impressive experimenters in this line of work in the = auditory sciences is Christian Stilp, whose work is described here: <a href=3D"https= ://louisville.edu/psychology/stilp/lab/research" class=3D"gmail_msg" target= =3D"_blank">https://louisville.edu/psychology/stilp/lab/research</a><span c= lass=3D"gmail_msg"></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal gmail_msg"><span class=3D"gmail_msg">=C2=A0</span></p= > <p class=3D"MsoNormal gmail_msg">Given these thoughts, I am more likely to = marvel at the pleasant coincidence of resonance frequencies, but with a healthy dose of = =E2=80=9Caw shucks=E2=80=9D rather than a press release or quest to support a particula= r narrative. <span class=3D"gmail_msg"></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal gmail_msg">Matt<span class=3D"gmail_msg"></span></p><= /div><div class=3D"gmail_extra gmail_msg"><br clear=3D"all" class=3D"gmail_= msg"><div class=3D"gmail_msg"><div class=3D"m_5007928409991026054gmail_sign= ature gmail_msg" data-smartmail=3D"gmail_signature"><div dir=3D"ltr" class= =3D"gmail_msg"><div class=3D"gmail_msg"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_msg= "><br class=3D"gmail_msg"></div><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_msg">------= --------------------------------------------------------</div><div dir=3D"l= tr" class=3D"gmail_msg">Matthew Winn, Au.D., Ph.D.<br class=3D"gmail_msg">A= ssistant Professor<br class=3D"gmail_msg">Dept. of Speech &amp; Hearing Sci= ences<br class=3D"gmail_msg">University of Washington</div></div></div></di= v></div></div><div class=3D"gmail_extra gmail_msg"> <br class=3D"gmail_msg"><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail_msg">On Mon, Feb 6,= 2017 at 12:56 PM, Huron, David <span dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_msg">&lt;<= a href=3D"mailto:huron.1@xxxxxxxx" class=3D"gmail_msg" target=3D"_blank">hur= on.1@xxxxxxxx</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br class=3D"gmail_msg"><blockquote class= =3D"gmail_quote gmail_msg" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc = solid;padding-left:1ex"> <div class=3D"gmail_msg"> <div style=3D"direction:ltr;font-family:Tahoma;color:#000000;font-size:10pt= " class=3D"gmail_msg"> <div class=3D"gmail_msg">Dear collective wisdom,</div> <div class=3D"gmail_msg"><br class=3D"gmail_msg"> </div> <div class=3D"gmail_msg">I recall reading somewhere (long ago) that most hu= man screams exhibit a spectral peak in the 3 kHz region (more broadly, 2-5 = kHz) coinciding with the threshold dip due to the ear canal resonance.=C2= =A0 The implication is that screams are co-adapted to the most sensitive region of human hearing.</div> <div class=3D"gmail_msg"><br class=3D"gmail_msg"> </div> <div class=3D"gmail_msg">Can anyone point me to a suitable reference?=C2=A0= Even literature reporting power spectrum data for human screams would be u= seful.</div><span class=3D"m_5007928409991026054HOEnZb gmail_msg"><font col= or=3D"#888888" class=3D"gmail_msg"> <div class=3D"gmail_msg"><br class=3D"gmail_msg"> </div> <div class=3D"gmail_msg">David Huron</div> </font></span></div> </div> </blockquote></div><br class=3D"gmail_msg"></div></blockquote></div> --94eb2c1497b4930eb2054810605d--


This message came from the mail archive
../postings/2017/
maintained by:
DAn Ellis <dpwe@ee.columbia.edu>
Electrical Engineering Dept., Columbia University