Spectral Psychoanalysis of Speech under Strain

Abstract

The non-verbal content of speech carries information about the physiological and psychological condition of the speaker. Psychological strain is a pathological element of this condition, of which one of the causes is accepted to be Exam-Strain. Objective, quantifiable correlates of strain are searched for by means of measuring the acoustic modifications of the voice brought about by Exam-Strain. Different voice features from the speech signal to be influenced by strain are: loudness, fundamental frequency, jitter, zero-crossing rate, speech rate and high-energy frequency ratio. To examine the effect of Exam-Strain on speech production an experiment was designed. Final Year students of age group 22 to 24 were selected and assignment was given to them and instructs them that have viva on that assignment and their performance in the viva will decide their final internal marks in the examination. The experiment and the psychoanalysis of the test results are reported in this paper.