# The Role of the Vocal Ligament in Vocalization

> **NIH NIH R01** · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · 2021 · $592,118

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This research addresses an important public health concern, the development and maintenance
of adequate pitch variation and vocal clarity throughout the life span. Evidence has been
growing that vocal pitch range and stability of vocalization can be maintained with voice training
and therapy techniques that rely heavily on repeated pitch glides, presumably to stretch the
vocal ligament. It is impossible to measure directly the time-course of remodeling the vocal
ligament with exercise in live humans. However, strong inferences can be drawn from structural
and mechanical diversity across several species, from tissue engineering, and from
computational modeling. In this proposal, we combine (1) microscopic imaging to test collagen
density and fiber orientation in multiple species, (2) bioreactor design of a vocal ligament with
combined axial and vibrational stress and selected growth factors, (3) finite-element computer
modeling to predict fundamental frequency ranges and stability in vocal fold adduction, and (4)
human subject exercise protocols to increase fundamental frequency range and vocal adduction
control. While the aims can all be executed independently, they cross-validate each other on the
basic premise that the vocal ligament is critical for fo range and can change over time. A first
hypothesis is that the ligament can sustain high tension (up to 1 MPa) for high fundamental
frequencies. A second hypothesis is that the vocal ligament serves as a stabilizer in vocal fold
posturing and maintaining a consistently straight fold edge for glottal closure. Doses of repeated
stretching are designed for engineering tissue in vitro and for human subject exercises. Results
will benefit a large population of people who are vocally active but whose voices appear
physiologically weak or aged.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10075900
- **Project number:** 5R01DC018280-02
- **Recipient organization:** UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- **Principal Investigator:** INGO R TITZE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $592,118
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-01-01 → 2024-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10075900

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10075900, The Role of the Vocal Ligament in Vocalization (5R01DC018280-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10075900. Licensed CC0.

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