A micro-computed tomography-based physical model of macaque larynx reveals effect of vocal membrane on phonation onset pressure

Abstract

The vocal membrane, i.e., an extended part of the vocal fold, is present in non-human primates. To understand its function in animal vocalization, Mergell et al. (1999) constructed a mathematical model of the vocal membrane and predicted that the vocal membrane lowers the phonation threshold pressure required to initiate the vocal fold oscillations. The present study constructed a physical model of the vocal membrane based on a micro-computed tomography measurement of a rhesus macaque larynx. Our physical experiment confirmed that the phonation threshold pressure was indeed lowered and, consequently, the vocal efficiency was increased by the vocal membrane.