OPTIMI: Early Detection & Prevention

Institute for Response-Genetics, University of Zurich

Head: Prof. Dr. Hans H. Stassen

IFRG Logo
IFRG Emblem
Trithemius

Partners:
Everis, Spain
ETH, Switzerland
UZH, Switzerland
Freiburg, Germany
MA Systems, UK
Bristol, UK
Xiwrite, Italy
Ultrasis, UK
Jaume, Spain
Valencia, Spain
Lanzhou, China

 

EU-Grant (FP7):
248544

Normative Voice Recordings

Spoken languages are characterized by rhythm, stress, and intonation of speech (prosody). Languages can be classified according to the distinctive prosodic units that constitute the languages’ specific rhythm and sound made up by the mode of pronunciation, pitch or tone, emphasis patterns, and intonation (accent). Linguists classify languages as being either «stress-timed» with highly complex syllables, «syllable-timed» with less complex syllables, or «mora-timed» with relatively simple syllables. Stress-timed languages include English and German, and syllable-timed languages French, Italian, and Spanish. Additional modifying factors are gender, age, and educational level.

In consequence, any approach to quantifying a speaker’s affective state through voice analysis must necessarily take language-, gender-, age-, and education-specific components into account in order to distinguish between «natural fluctuations» and «significant changes» of clinical relevance. We have carried out normative studies with 2 stress-timed languages (English, German) and 3 syllable-timed languages (French, Italian, Spanish) in order to determine the respective criteria and threshold values. The study samples were stratified according to gender, age, and education. Test persons were invited to present the 3 types of text twice at 14-day intervals and at a fixed time in the morning according to the following scheme: (1) counting out loud from 1 to 40; (2) reading out loud the emotionally neutral text; (3) reading out loud the emotionally stimulating text; and (4) counting out loud again from 1 to 40.

The resulting normative values are constituent parts of our «Voice-App» that allows test persons to monitor their affective state over time by daily 2-minute voice recordings.

Depressive-Voice App: Get involved in health prevention!  download the app for free download the app for free

References

Braun S, Botella C, Bridler R, Chmetz F, Delfino JP, Herzig D, Kluckner VJ, Mohr C, Moragrega I, Schrag Y, Seifritz E, Soler C, Stassen HH: Affective State and Voice: Cross-Cultural Assessment of Speaking Behavior and Voice Sound Characteristics. A Normative Multi-Center Study of 577+36 Healthy Subjects. Psychopathology 2014; 47(5): 327-340
Delfino JP, Barragán E, Botella C, Braun S, Bridler R, Camussi E, Chafrat V, Lott P, Mohr C, Moragrega I, Papagno C, Sanchez S, Seifritz E, Soler C, Stassen HH: Quantifying Insufficient Coping Behavior under Chronic Stress. A cross-cultural study of 1,303 students from Italy, Spain, and Argentina. Psychopathology 2015; 48: 230-239
Mohr C, Braun S, Bridler R, Chmetz F, Delfino JP, Kluckner VJ, Lott P, Schrag Y, Seifritz E, Stassen HH: Insufficient Coping Behavior under Chronic Stress and Vulnerability to Psychiatric Disorders. Psychopathology 2014; 47: 235-243

 

vSpacer Voice-App: Monitoring the Effects of Chronic Stress & Risk of Depression
Voice recordings are carried out as self-assessments in the test person's home environment by means of a 2nd-generation microphone with integrated A/D-converter that plugs into any standard USB port of a laptop or netbook. An easy-to-use "voice app" is currently available for Laptops, Tablets, and Smartphones under Windows and Android. The iPhone version is in preparation.
Hspacer
[ Mail to Webmaster ] k454910@ifrg.ch
rFrame