{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,23]],"date-time":"2026-08-23T18:36:28Z","timestamp":1787510188560,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,6]],"date-time":"2025-02-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1738800000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Bioengineering"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Voice onset is the sequence of events between the first detectable movement of the vocal folds (VFs) and the stable vibration of the vocal folds. It is considered a critical phase of phonation, and the different modalities of voice onset and their distinctive characteristics are analysed. Oscillation of the VFs can start from either a closed glottis with no airflow or an open glottis with airflow. The objective of this article is to provide a comprehensive survey of this transient phenomenon, from a biomechanical point of view, in normal modal (i.e., nonpathological) conditions of vocal emission. This synthetic overview mainly relies upon a number of recent experimental studies, all based on in vivo physiological measurements, and using a common, original and consistent methodology which combines high-speed imaging, sound analysis, electro-, photo-, flow- and ultrasound glottography. In this way, the two basic parameters\u2014the instantaneous glottal area and the airflow\u2014can be measured, and the instantaneous intraglottal pressure can be automatically calculated from the combined records, which gives a detailed insight, both qualitative and quantitative, into the onset phenomenon. The similarity of the methodology enables a link to be made with the biomechanics of sustained phonation. Essential is the temporal relationship between the glottal area and intraglottal pressure. The three key findings are (1) From the initial onset cycles onwards, the intraglottal pressure signal leads that of the opening signal, as in sustained voicing, which is the basic condition for an energy transfer from the lung pressure to the VF tissue. (2) This phase lead is primarily due to the skewing of the airflow curve to the right with respect to the glottal area curve, a consequence of the compressibility of air and the inertance of the vocal tract. (3) In case of a soft, physiological onset, the glottis shows a spindle-shaped configuration just before the oscillation begins. Using the same parameters (airflow, glottal area, intraglottal pressure), the mechanism of triggering the oscillation can be explained by the intraglottal aerodynamic condition. From the first cycles on, the VFs oscillate on either side of a paramedian axis. The amplitude of these free oscillations increases progressively before the first contact on the midline. Whether the first movement is lateral or medial cannot be defined. Moreover, this comprehensive synthesis of onset biomechanics and the links it creates sheds new light on comparable phenomena at the level of sound attack in wind instruments, as well as phenomena such as the production of intervals in the sung voice.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/bioengineering12020155","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,6]],"date-time":"2025-02-06T04:47:31Z","timestamp":1738817251000},"page":"155","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Biophysics of Voice Onset: A Comprehensive Overview"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Philippe H.","family":"DeJonckere","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Federal Agency for Occupational Risks, 1210 Brussels, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jean","family":"Lebacq","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Neurosciences Institute, University of Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Baken, R.J., and Orlikoff, R.F. (2000). Clinical Measurement of Speech and Voice, Singular Publishing Group. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"355","DOI":"10.1016\/S0892-1997(99)80041-1","article-title":"Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Voice Onset by means of a Multidimensional Voice Analysis System (MVAS) using high-speed Imaging","volume":"13","author":"Marx","year":"1999","journal-title":"J. Voice"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"528","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bspc.2019.01.004","article-title":"The dynamics of vocal onset","volume":"49","author":"Lebacq","year":"2019","journal-title":"Biomed. Signal Process. Control"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"92","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bspc.2016.10.010","article-title":"Damping of vocal fold oscillation at voice offset","volume":"37","author":"DeJonckere","year":"2017","journal-title":"Biomed. Signal Process. Control"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"75","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wocn.2017.05.002","article-title":"Voice onset time (VOT): Theoretical and practical issues in measuring voicing distinctions","volume":"63","author":"Abramson","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Phon."},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"6","article-title":"Experimenting \u2018in vivo\u2019 with dynamic glottal parameters: Methodological issues, technical tips and preventable pitfalls","volume":"10","author":"DeJonckere","year":"2023","journal-title":"Prog. Neurobiol."},{"key":"ref_7","unstructured":"DeJonckere, P.H., and Lebacq, J. (2024). The Physics of the Human Vocal Folds as a Biological Oscillator, IntechOpen."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.1016\/S0892-1997(96)80047-6","article-title":"Videokymography: High speed line scanning of vocal fold vibration","volume":"10","author":"Svec","year":"1996","journal-title":"J. Voice"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.3109\/14015439.2013.861014","article-title":"Automated tracking of quantitative parameters from single line scanning of vocal folds: A case study of the \u2018messa di voce\u2019 exercise","volume":"40","author":"DeJonckere","year":"2015","journal-title":"Logop. Phoniatr. Vocol."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Passali, D. (2005, January 25\u201330). High-speed imaging of vocal fold vibration: Analysis by four synchronous single-line scans of onset, offset and register break. Proceedings of the XVIII I.F.O.S. (International Federation of Oto-rhino-laryngological Societies) World Congress, Rome, Italy."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"608","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvoice.2020.08.025","article-title":"Vocal Fold Collision Speed in vivo: The Effect of Loudness","volume":"36","author":"DeJonckere","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Voice"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"714","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvoice.2017.03.001","article-title":"Dynamics of the driving force during the normal vocal fold vibration cycle","volume":"31","author":"DeJonckere","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Voice"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1632","DOI":"10.1121\/1.1913513","article-title":"A new inverse-filtering technique for deriving the glottal airflow waveform during voicing","volume":"53","author":"Rothenberg","year":"1973","journal-title":"J. Acoust. Soc. Am."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"155","DOI":"10.1044\/jshr.2001.155","article-title":"Measurement of Airflow in Speech","volume":"20","author":"Rothenberg","year":"1977","journal-title":"J. Speech Hear. Res."},{"key":"ref_15","unstructured":"Titze, I.R., and Scherer, R.C. (1984). Source-tract acoustic interaction in breathy voice. Vocal Fold Physiology: Biomechanics, Acoustics and Phonatory Control, The Denver Center for the Performing Arts."},{"key":"ref_16","first-page":"1","article-title":"Notes on the Rothenberg mask","volume":"31","author":"Badin","year":"1990","journal-title":"Dept. Speech Music. Hear. Q. Prog. Status Rep."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"623","DOI":"10.1007\/s12046-011-0041-5","article-title":"Glottal inverse filtering analysis of human voice production. A review of estimation and parameterization methods of the glottal excitation and their applications","volume":"36","author":"Alku","year":"2011","journal-title":"Sadhana"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100","DOI":"10.4103\/0377-2063.54892","article-title":"An impedance detector for glottography","volume":"55","author":"Sarvaiya","year":"2011","journal-title":"IETE J. Res."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"265","DOI":"10.1159\/000266080","article-title":"Doppler ultrasound examination of the vibration speed of vocal folds","volume":"42","author":"Schindler","year":"1990","journal-title":"Folia Phoniatr. Logop."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zehnhoff-Dinnesen, A., Wiskirska-Woznica, B., Neumann, K., and Nawka, T. (2020). Sonographic examination of the larynx. European Manual of Medicine, Springer. Phoniatrics.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-662-46780-0"},{"key":"ref_21","unstructured":"(2023, December 01). Available online: www.praat.org."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1536","DOI":"10.1121\/1.395910","article-title":"The physics of small-amplitude oscillation of the vocal folds","volume":"83","author":"Titze","year":"1988","journal-title":"J. Acoust. Soc. Am."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Titze, I.R. (2000). Principles of Voice Production 2nd Printing, National Center for Voice and Speech."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"645.e19","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvoice.2019.01.001","article-title":"In vivo quantification of the intraglottal pressure: Modal phonation and voice onset","volume":"34","author":"DeJonckere","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Voice"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.1177\/000348946207100106","article-title":"Adaptations for phonatory efficiency in the human vocal folds","volume":"71","author":"Fink","year":"1962","journal-title":"Ann. Otol. Rhinol. Laryngol."},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"Fink, B.R., and Demarest, R.J. (1978). Laryngeal Biomechanics, Harvard University Press."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"171","DOI":"10.1159\/000219952","article-title":"Pathogenesis of vocal fold nodules: New insights from a modelling approach","volume":"61","author":"DeJonckere","year":"2009","journal-title":"Folia Phoniatr. Logop."},{"key":"ref_28","first-page":"127","article-title":"Mechanism of initiation of oscillatory motion in human glottis","volume":"89","author":"DeJonckere","year":"1981","journal-title":"Arch. Internat. Physiol. Biochim."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"DeJonckere, P.H. (1987). EMG of the Larynx, Pietteur."},{"key":"ref_30","unstructured":"DeJonckere, P.H., Lebacq, J., and Manfredi, C. (2013). Anticipation of a neuromuscular tuning in M. vocalis perturbs the periodicity of vocal fold vibration: The unexpected finding of a pitch-matching experiment comparing students with high-level professionals. Models and Analysis of Vocal Emissions for Biomedical Applications: 8th International Workshop Dec 16\u201318, 2013, Firenze University Press."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"519","DOI":"10.1016\/S0892-1997(01)00052-2","article-title":"Acoustic interpretation of the resonant voice","volume":"15","author":"Titze","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Voice"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvoice.2017.04.002","article-title":"Effects of vertical glottal duct length on intraglottal pressures and phonation threshold pressure in the uniform glottis","volume":"32","author":"Li","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Voice"},{"key":"ref_33","first-page":"343","article-title":"Relation de phase entre la dynamique de la pression sous-glottique et le mouvement oscillatoire des cordes vocales: II. Attaque vocalique et fin d\u2019\u00e9mission","volume":"88","author":"DeJonckere","year":"1980","journal-title":"Arch. Physiol. Biochem."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"156.e23","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvoice.2019.08.002","article-title":"Intraglottal aerodynamics at vocal fold vibration onset","volume":"35","author":"DeJonckere","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Voice"},{"key":"ref_35","first-page":"17","article-title":"Application of some acoustic measures for the evaluation of laryngeal dysfunction","volume":"7","author":"Koike","year":"1973","journal-title":"Stud. Phonol."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1097\/00005537-200104001-00001","article-title":"The study of laryngeal muscle activity in normal human subjects and in patients with laryngeal dystonia using multiple fine-wire electromyography","volume":"111","author":"Hillel","year":"2001","journal-title":"Laryngoscope"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1159\/000264319","article-title":"Les m\u00e9canismes musculaires \u00e9l\u00e9mentaires de r\u00e9gulation de la tension de la corde vocale au cours de la phonation","volume":"32","author":"DeJonckere","year":"1980","journal-title":"Folia. Phon."},{"key":"ref_38","first-page":"28","article-title":"Oscillatory mechanism of the glottis in horn playing","volume":"41","author":"DeJonckere","year":"1983","journal-title":"Brass Bulletin"},{"key":"ref_39","first-page":"395","article-title":"Vocal cord vibrations compared to the vibrations of a trombone player\u2019s lips","volume":"15","year":"1966","journal-title":"J. Fr. Otorhinolaryngol. Chir. Maxillofac."},{"key":"ref_40","unstructured":"DeJonckere, P.H. (1981). Th\u00e9orie Oscillo-Imp\u00e9dantielle de la Vibration des Cordes Vocales. [Ph.D. Thesis, Catholic University of Louvain]."},{"key":"ref_41","first-page":"875","article-title":"L\u2019attaque, phase critique de la phonation","volume":"8","author":"Cornut","year":"1959","journal-title":"J. Fran\u00e7. Otorhinolaryngol."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chacon, A.M., Nguyen, D.D., Holik, J., D\u00f6llinger, M., Arias-Vergara, T., and Madille, C.J. (2024). Vowel onset measures and their reliability, sensitivity and specificity: A systematic literature review. PLoS ONE, 19.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0301786"}],"container-title":["Bioengineering"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2306-5354\/12\/2\/155\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T16:27:51Z","timestamp":1760027271000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2306-5354\/12\/2\/155"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,6]]},"references-count":42,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2]]}},"alternative-id":["bioengineering12020155"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/bioengineering12020155","relation":{},"ISSN":["2306-5354"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2306-5354","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,6]]}}}