Microphone on black background

Basic and applied aspects of voice learning and recogntion

In comparison to face perception, voice perception in humans is still a relatively under-researched area. In this project we address basic questions regarding mechanisms and relevant information, but also applied aspects, mainly in the context of forensic psychology.
Microphone on black background
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Project Description

In comparison to face perception, voice perception is still a relatively under-researched area. In this project we study voice perception in humans. We address basic questions regarding mechanisms and relevant information for face perception, but also applied aspects, mainly in the context of forensic psychology. Our main focus is on voice identity learning and recognition, but we are also interested in the contribution of voices on other aspects of social perception, such as impression formation. In addition to classic behavioural methods we use EEG and are beginning to implement Virtual Reality (VR) environments in our studies.

 Research questions:

  • How closely intertwined are voice and face recognition, and are there similar phenomena in voice and face recognition (e.g. other-“race” effect) that hamper performance of ear- and eyewitnesses?    
  • What are the neural correlates of voice learning and recognition?
  • Can the error rate in forensic lineups be reduced by using multi-modal (e.g. face-voice) stimuli
  • Can individual differences in voice recognition skills be used to predict accuracy in lineup performance of earwitnesses? 

Resources

VRU members have developed the Jena Speaker Set aswell as the Jena Voice Learning and Memory Test. You can learn more about them in the respektive papers, or on this website by following the Links below.

  • Humble, D., Schweinberger, S. R., Mayer, A., Jesgarzewsky, T. L., Dobel, C., & Zäske, R. (2023). The Jena Voice Learning and Memory Test (JVLMT): A standardized tool for assessing the ability to learn and recognize voices. Behavior Research Methods, 55(3), 1352-1371. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-022-01818-3External link

 

 

  • Audio Casette
    Image: Bild von Bruno auf Pixabay
    Jena Speaker Set A stimulus database of voice stimuli in german language, feauturing stimuli from old and young speakers, in varying length and spontanity.
  • A grafic illustrating the order of testing in the JVLMT
    Picture: Romi Zäske
    Jena Voice Learning and Memory Test The JVLMT is a 22 min standardized voice memory test. At test, learned voices need to be selected from foils. The stimuli vary in duration and manipulation of acoustic similarity.

Publications

  • Schroeger, A., Kaufmann, J. M., Zaske, R., Kovacs, G., Klos, T., & Schweinberger, S. R. (2022). Atypical prosopagnosia following right hemispheric stroke: A 23-year follow-up study with MT. Cognitive Neuropsychology, 39(3-4), 196-207. https://doi.org/10.1080/02643294.2022.2119838External link
  • Schweinberger, S., von Eiff, C., Kaufmann, J., Kowallik, A., Nussbaum, C., Tsuchiya, A., & Skuk, V. (2021). Parameter-specific face and voice morphing: perspectives for investigating emotional and social perception and interaction. Psychophysiology, 58, S4-S4. <Go to ISI>://WOS:000706408100010
  • Zäske, R., Kaufmann, J. M., & Schweinberger, S. R. (2023). Neural Correlates of Voice Learning with Distinctive and Non-Distinctive Faces. Brain Sciences, 13(4), Article 637. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13040637External link

Principal Investigator

Jürgen M. Kaufmann
vCard
Institutsgebäude (Haus 1), Room 112
Am Steiger 3
07743 Jena Google Maps site planExternal link