Meeting Abstract

66.5  Thursday, Jan. 6  THE MUSCLE ACTIVATION PLOT AS A GRAPHIC UNIT INTERFACE FOR VOICE SIMULATION ACROSS SPECIES. TITZE, I.R.*; RIEDE, T.; Uni. of Utah, Salt Lake City; Uni. of Utah, Salt Lake City ingo.titze@ncvs2.org

Voice simulation utilizes sophisticated computational methods from two well-developed disciplines, mechanical engineering and physiology of musculo-skeletal systems. Fluid-structure interaction principles are applied to explore the regimes in which self-sustained oscillation can occur when airflow passes between the vocal folds to generate sound. Principles of muscle physiology and skeletal framework mechanics are applied to posture the vocal folds and establish their viscoelastic tissue properties. The key graphic display for comparative biology is the muscle activation plot (MAP), which creates space in which fundamental frequency of phonation, oscillation threshold pressure, and vocal fold elongation can be related to activation of major laryngeal muscles. Iso-fundamental frequency lines are drawn, which are the equivalent of a navigational map with constant elevation lines, to allow pitch contours to be explored. Phonation threshold pressure indicates the amount of lung pressure needed to produce sound at a given frequency line. Vocal fold strain (elongation at a cadaveric rest length), together with the level of muscle activation, begins to establish a cost for a given production. Successful MAPs have been created for the human, dog, elk, and rat.