Perception of Nonverbal Acoustic Signals and Resulting Physiological Responses (SINOVE-PER)
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
Like many other animals, humans produce nonverbal signals including screams, grunts, roars, cries and laughter across a variety of contexts.Due to their acoustic structure, nonverbal vocalizations and valanced speech (e.g., yelling) are also likely to elicit predictable physiological, perceptual or behavioural responses in the receiver of the signal (the listener). This is critical if researchers are to gain a comprehensive understanding of the broad range of mechanisms and the evolved functions of acoustic communication.
Therefore, in this research, investigators will examine specifically how exposure to vocal stimuli affects both the cognitive and biological responses of the listener.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
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Detailed Description
Like many other animals, humans produce nonverbal signals including screams, grunts, roars, cries and laughter across a variety of contexts. Many of these signals (such as cries) are already produced at birth and are likely to serve a number of important biological and social functions. In addition, human speech is characterized by nonlinguistic acoustic parameters (such as pitch, formant frequencies, and nonlinear phenomena) that are known to correlate with biologically important traits of the vocalizer.
Due to their acoustic structure, nonverbal vocalizations and valanced speech (e.g., yelling) are also likely to elicit predictable physiological, perceptual or behavioural responses in the receiver of the signal (the listener).
However, while a number of playback studies have examined behavioural responses (e.g., ratings) of listeners when exposed to various voice stimuli, very few studies have examined whether such behavioural responses are accompanied by an underlying physiological response. This is critical if researchers are to gain a comprehensive understanding of the broad range of mechanisms and the evolved functions of acoustic communication.
Therefore, in this research, investigators will examine specifically how exposure to vocal stimuli affects both the cognitive and biological responses of the listener.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Healthy adult population aged 18 to 80 years After listening to acoustic stimuli, participants will be asked to judge these stimuli on relevant evaluation criteria (e.g., "how distressed does this person sound?"). |
Behavioral: Psycho-acoustic tests
Listeners' cognitive and biological responses to vocal stimuli will be tested using psycho-acoustic tests. After listening to acoustic stimuli, participants will be asked to judge these stimuli on relevant evaluation criteria (e.g., "how distressed does this person sound?").
These stimuli might be human voices, animal voices or synthetic voices Physiological measures will be simultaneously taken using an array of complimentary, non-invasive techniques such as the Nociception Level (NOL) Index or video pupillometry
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Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Proportion of correct responses in a forced-choice task after vocal stimuli [Immediately after the vocal stimuli]
Participants will be asked to judge vocal stimuli Example : "Of the two baby cries you listened to, which one do you think shows the most distress"
- Numerical values of judgements along a scale [Immediately after the vocal stimuli]
Participants will be asked to judge vocal stimuli Example : participants may be asked to judge, along a gradient (from 0 to 100), "how consistent the distress of the baby you heard is to you".
- Response time (second) [Immediately after the vocal stimuli]
Participants will be asked to judge vocal stimuli In this case, the participant is instructed to respond as soon as possible. The response time for each stimulus is then systematically measured
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Heart rate (bpm) [During the vocal stimuli]
- Skin conductance (Siemens) [During the vocal stimuli]
- Skin temperature (°C) [During the vocal stimuli]
- Nociception Level Index (NOL) [During the vocal stimuli]
A non-invasive finger probe, containing four sensors, will be placed on the on the index finger of the participants.
- Pupillary diameter (millimeter) [During the vocal stimuli]
Using a high resolution binocular for automated pupil diameter measurement with an infrared camera
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Participant should be affiliated or entitled to a social security scheme
Exclusion Criteria:
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Pregnancy
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Hearing impairment, speech production disorders or major health problems.
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHU Saint-Etienne | Saint-Étienne | France | 42055 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint Etienne
- University of Lyon
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: ROLAND PEYRON, MDPHD, CHU DE SAINT-ETIENNE
- Study Chair: Nicolas MATHEVON, PhD, University of Saint-Etienne, France
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- 20CH151
- 2020-A02993-36