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Perception of Nonverbal Acoustic Signals and Resulting Physiological Responses (SINOVE-PER)

Perception of Nonverbal Acoustic Signals and Resulting Physiological Responses SINOVE-PER

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05252312
Acronym
SINOVE-PER
Enrollment
2000
Registered
2022-02-23
Start date
2022-11-29
Completion date
2027-04-01
Last updated
2026-05-06

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Self Perception

Keywords

nonverbal signals of the vocalizer, nonlinguistic acoustic parameters, physiological responses, perceptual responses, behavioural responses

Brief summary

Like many other animals, humans produce nonverbal signals including screams, grunts, roars, cries and laughter across a variety of contexts.Due to their acoustic structure, nonverbal vocalizations and valanced speech (e.g., yelling) are also likely to elicit predictable physiological, perceptual or behavioural responses in the receiver of the signal (the listener). This is critical if researchers are to gain a comprehensive understanding of the broad range of mechanisms and the evolved functions of acoustic communication. Therefore, in this research, investigators will examine specifically how exposure to vocal stimuli affects both the cognitive and biological responses of the listener.

Detailed description

Like many other animals, humans produce nonverbal signals including screams, grunts, roars, cries and laughter across a variety of contexts. Many of these signals (such as cries) are already produced at birth and are likely to serve a number of important biological and social functions. In addition, human speech is characterized by nonlinguistic acoustic parameters (such as pitch, formant frequencies, and nonlinear phenomena) that are known to correlate with biologically important traits of the vocalizer. Due to their acoustic structure, nonverbal vocalizations and valanced speech (e.g., yelling) are also likely to elicit predictable physiological, perceptual or behavioural responses in the receiver of the signal (the listener). However, while a number of playback studies have examined behavioural responses (e.g., ratings) of listeners when exposed to various voice stimuli, very few studies have examined whether such behavioural responses are accompanied by an underlying physiological response. This is critical if researchers are to gain a comprehensive understanding of the broad range of mechanisms and the evolved functions of acoustic communication. Therefore, in this research, investigators will examine specifically how exposure to vocal stimuli affects both the cognitive and biological responses of the listener.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALPsycho-acoustic tests

Listeners' cognitive and biological responses to vocal stimuli will be tested using psycho-acoustic tests. After listening to acoustic stimuli, participants will be asked to judge these stimuli on relevant evaluation criteria (e.g., "how distressed does this person sound?"). These stimuli might be human voices, animal voices or synthetic voices Physiological measures will be simultaneously taken using an array of complimentary, non-invasive techniques such as the Nociception Level (NOL) Index or video pupillometry

Sponsors

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint Etienne
Lead SponsorOTHER
University of Lyon
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
OTHER
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

\- Participant should be affiliated or entitled to a social security scheme

Exclusion criteria

* Pregnancy * Hearing impairment, speech production disorders or major health problems.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Proportion of correct responses in a forced-choice task after vocal stimuliImmediately after the vocal stimuliParticipants will be asked to judge vocal stimuli Example : "Of the two baby cries you listened to, which one do you think shows the most distress"
Numerical values of judgements along a scaleImmediately after the vocal stimuliParticipants will be asked to judge vocal stimuli Example : participants may be asked to judge, along a gradient (from 0 to 100), "how consistent the distress of the baby you heard is to you".
Response time (second)Immediately after the vocal stimuliParticipants will be asked to judge vocal stimuli In this case, the participant is instructed to respond as soon as possible. The response time for each stimulus is then systematically measured

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Heart rate (bpm)During the vocal stimuli
Skin conductance (Siemens)During the vocal stimuli
Skin temperature (°C)During the vocal stimuli
Nociception Level Index (NOL)During the vocal stimuliA non-invasive finger probe, containing four sensors, will be placed on the on the index finger of the participants.
Pupillary diameter (millimeter)During the vocal stimuliUsing a high resolution binocular for automated pupil diameter measurement with an infrared camera

Countries

France

Contacts

CONTACTROLAND PEYRON, MDPhD
roland.peyron@chu-st-etienne.fr(0)477127805
CONTACTNicolas MATHEVON, PhD
nicolas.mathevon@univ-st-etienne.fr04 77 48 50 22
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORROLAND PEYRON, MDPHD

CHU DE SAINT-ETIENNE

STUDY_CHAIRNicolas MATHEVON, PhD

University of Saint-Etienne, France

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 7, 2026