Psychology 2134A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Postcentral Gyrus, Motor Speech Disorders, Frontal Lobe

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2134A/B
• Professor: Sarah Smits- Bandstra

Document Summary

Section 4. 1: the vocal tract and the production of speech. The production of speech begins in the lungs, which provide the airstream for vocalization. This airstream flows up the trachea through the glottis, or voice box. Vocal folds a pair of membranes stretched across the opening of the glottis that can be vibrated to produce sound. When the vocal folds are retracted, the airstream flows through unimpeded, as in the case of normal breathing. If the vocal folds are pulled across the opening of the glottis, the airflow is constricted, and the resulting air pressure causes them to vibrate, producing phonation. Recall that phonation is the buzzing sensation you can feel if you hold your hand to your throat while saying ahhh The vibrating vocal folds produce a fundamental frequency and overtones, and this complex sound wave then is the phonation that serves as the raw material for speech production.