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In an attempt to determine the response characteristics of the larynx in voluntary pitch change, five adult male subjects were instructed to execute a variety of continuous pitch changes, as rapidly as possible, within the range 90–220 Hz. For a given pitch interval, there was a marked tendency for all upward pitch change to take longer than a downward pitch change. Also, unexpectedly, there was no marked tendency for a change involving a wide pitch interval to take longer than a change involving. a smaller interval. Speculations on the physiological reasons for these relations, as well as their possible relevance to the phonology of tone and intonation, will be offered. Supported by the National Science Foundation and a University of California Faculty Research Grant.
Ohala et al. (Mon,) studied this question.