Abstract
An earlier book chapter (Gregory 1999) reviewed the specific background of our investigations into the social significance and neurology of the lower speech frequency in human communication. This lower speech frequency, termed the paraverbal frequency (beneath.5 kHz), was found to convey important nonverbal social information, and the previously published chapter outlined the methodology and results of numerous experiments showing how the paraverbal signal differs from the verbal; specifically, how it acts as an elemental mechanism of social status accommodation and social convergence between conversation partners. The present chapter will continue from where the last chapter left off and aims first to merge our past results and observations with a theoretical account making use of pertinent findings from physical anthropology, cognitive psychology, and neurology. With the theoretical background established, we will then review how our research led to the development of a technological innovation called “SplitSpec Technology,” and how this innovation will fit into the future of human electronic communications.
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Notes
- 1.
Professor Hans Thewissen is professor of anatomy at the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, and his specialized research interest is in marine mammals. The lateral lines in fish have a precursor inserted within the aural system of mammals – the lateral lines are spiraled and condensed thus forming the mammalian cochlea (Partridge 1982). The contralateral reflex, discussed above, is called C-start in fishes reflecting the “C” shape of the fish after the defensive reflex is affected. A marine, snake predator has made use of this reflex in pursuing its prey by first circling the fish, then activating the fish’s C-start reflex with a slight aquatic perturbation in such a way to cause the fish to directly swim into the snake’s mouth, thus turning the fish’s defensive strategy into the snake’s offensive strategy http://www.livescience.com/5503-snake-tricks-fish-swim-mouth.htlm.
- 2.
This difference in neural wiring has undoubtedly developed owing to the major difference in somatic position of (1) the eyes perceiving an apportioned but partially shared field of view as mimicked by the neural function of the optic chiasm, and (2) the ears perceiving a shared ambient air space but an apportioned proximity of aural space as mimicked by the neural function of the aural pathways (Geffen et al. 1971).
- 3.
- 4.
Though former Vice President Gore won the popular vote, he did not become president as the Supreme Court judgment caused George W. Bush to take the office of president.
- 5.
The aural system in this study used the same headset microphone system as in previous research projects, and the visual system made use of closed circuit television monitors with cameras installed so participants could interact visually with one another.
- 6.
All prospective participants were administered the Oldfield Handedness Inventory (1970). Only right-handed participants could participate in this research, as there is a higher probability that left-handers may have reversed cerebral lateralization than right- handed participants. This practice was done in order to prevent a possible confound, and is generally the practice in dichotic listening research.
- 7.
No significant differences were found between the task completion time means for the confounded and control conditions. This was an unanticipated finding and we offer a possible explanation for this result. Though our theory establishes that routing the signal to the appropriate cerebral location enhances timely performance, the dichotic, contralateral, routing manipulation of the high and low-pass signals to the inappropriate hemispheres may involve a neuronal high/low-pass packaging of individual frequency bands, making them more efficient for rerouting than the raw, unfiltered monaural control signal.
- 8.
This result may be caused by a similar neural packaging affect as noted in note 7 above.
- 9.
The driving simulator (Simulator Systems International S-3300 Modular Driving simulator) consisted of simulated driving equipment, i.e. wheel, pedals, etc., including consoles with the necessary audio/visual effects.
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Gregory, S.W., Kalkhoff, W. (2013). Comprehending the Neurological Substratum of Paraverbal Communications: The Invention of SplitSpec Technology. In: Franks, D.D., Turner, J.H. (eds) Handbook of Neurosociology. Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4473-8_24
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