Physiologic and acoustic characteristics of the angry scream

Primitive vocalizations serve vital social and emotional functions in human communication, yet little is known about their underlying physiologic and acoustic characteristics. This study utilized Real-Time Magnetic Resonance Imaging (RT-MRI) to investigate vocal tract configurations during angry screaming in an adult female participant. A series of angry screams were analyzed using 2-D sagittal MRI measurements to quantify tracheal area, vocal tract shape, laryngeal height, and velar elevation. Simultaneous acoustic recordings were analyzed to capture fundamental frequency (F0) and open quotient (H1-H2). Compared to resting condition, the angry scream was characterized by pronounced tracheal dilation, megaphone-shaped oral tract, absence of visible pharyngeal space, elevated larynx, and raised velum. Acoustically, the angry scream exhibited very high F0 (over 1 kHz) and large H1-H2 (−16.9 Hz). These findings reflect physiologically effortful and emotionally charged vocal output. Explanations for these findings, including comparison to swallowing physiology, will be discussed. This study furthers our understanding of voice production under extreme emotional load and offers potential clinical implications. [Work partially supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), 17KT0059.]