Holmes, Luke and Rieger, Gerulf and Paulmann, Silke (2024) The effect of sexual orientation on voice acoustic properties. Frontiers in Psychology, 15. 1412372-. DOI https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1412372
Holmes, Luke and Rieger, Gerulf and Paulmann, Silke (2024) The effect of sexual orientation on voice acoustic properties. Frontiers in Psychology, 15. 1412372-. DOI https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1412372
Holmes, Luke and Rieger, Gerulf and Paulmann, Silke (2024) The effect of sexual orientation on voice acoustic properties. Frontiers in Psychology, 15. 1412372-. DOI https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1412372
Abstract
Introduction: Previous research has investigated sexual orientation differences in the acoustic properties of individuals’ voices, often theorizing that homosexuals of both sexes would have voice properties mirroring those of heterosexuals of the opposite sex. Findings were mixed, but many of these studies have methodological limitations including small sample sizes, use of recited passages instead of natural speech, or grouping bisexual and homosexual participants together for analyses. Methods: To address these shortcomings, the present study examined a wide range of acoustic properties in the natural voices of 142 men and 175 women of varying sexual orientations, with sexual orientation treated as a continuous variable throughout. Results: Homosexual men had less breathy voices (as indicated by a lower harmonics-to-noise ratio) and, contrary to our prediction, a lower voice pitch and narrower pitch range than heterosexual men. Homosexual women had lower F4 formant frequency (vocal tract resonance or so-called overtone) in overall vowel production, and rougher voices (measured via jitter and spectral tilt) than heterosexual women. For those sexual orientation differences that were statistically significant, bisexuals were in-between heterosexuals and homosexuals. No sexual orientation differences were found in formants F1–F3, cepstral peak prominence, shimmer, or speech rate in either sex.
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | voice, acoustics, formants, sexual orientation, sexual identity |
Subjects: | Z Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources > ZZ OA Fund (articles) |
Divisions: | Faculty of Science and Health Faculty of Science and Health > Psychology, Department of |
SWORD Depositor: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Date Deposited: | 28 Aug 2024 12:02 |
Last Modified: | 06 Sep 2024 23:46 |
URI: | http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/38927 |
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