ヴォーカルフライ（声の軋み）は主に若い女性に見られる話し方の特徴であるという一般的な通説に対し、新たな研究が異論を唱えている。音響分析と聴取テストの結果、この軋んだ声質は男性により多く見られ、年齢とともに増加することが明らかになった。
マギル大学のジーン・ブラウン氏が主導した本研究は、カナダの成人49人の音声をオンラインで収集して行われた。研究チームは基本周波数の不規則性や息漏れといった音響指標を測定し、男性話者においてヴォーカルフライの割合が高いことを明らかにした。また、この軋みは年齢とともに着実に増加しており、ヴォーカルフライが若さや女性らしさと結びつくというステレオタイプを覆す結果となった。
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Small speech timing habits—such as silent pauses, “um” and “uh,” and difficulty finding words—were associated with performance on standard executive-function tests in a study by researchers at Baycrest, the University of Toronto and York University.
A small controlled experiment reported in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience found that exposure to infrasound—ultra-low-frequency vibration below the range of human hearing—was associated with higher salivary cortisol and more negative mood ratings, even though participants could not reliably detect when the infrasound was present.
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A study by researchers at Tufts University reveals that some Samoyeds alter the pitch of their howls in response to changes in music, suggesting an inherited vocal ability from wolf ancestors. The findings, published in Current Biology, indicate dogs can perceive and adapt to pitch without vocal learning. This may shed light on the evolutionary origins of human musicality.
Architect and urbanist Andrés Borthagaray warned that noise in big cities like Buenos Aires has become a public health issue. Drawing from a survey of over 600 cases in the City of Buenos Aires, he highlighted the severe health damages from sustained noise, supported by international norms and WHO studies.
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Expert birdwatchers show structural brain differences compared to novices, suggesting the hobby reshapes neural pathways similar to learning a language or instrument. These changes may help build cognitive reserve against age-related decline. A study highlights increased brain activity and complexity in key regions among skilled birders.