Health News

Comparing predictors of how cochlear recipients will hear speech

Researchers from the University of Sydney and Cochlear Limited in world-first study that could lead to more accurate predictions of how those with cochlear implants understand speech, allowing for tailoring to individual hearing loss. Biomedical researchers from the University of Sydney, working in collaboration with Cochlear Limited, have conducted a world-first study that could lead […]

Health Problems

Primate study offers clues to evolution of speech

New research examining the brains and vocal repertoires of primates offers important insight into the evolution of human speech. The vocal tract and larynx is similar in form and function amongst virtually all terrestrial mammals, including humans. However, relative to humans, non-human primates produce an extremely limited range of vocalisations. Published in the journal Frontiers […]

Health Problems

‘Music of speech’ linked to brain area unique to humans

We humans are the only primates that can flexibly control the pitch of our voices. This melodic control is not just important for our singing abilities: Fluctuating pitch also conveys critical information during speech—including the speaker’s mood, words of emphasis, or whether a sentence is a statement or a question. Some tonal languages, like Mandarin […]