In the Beginning Was the Familiar Voice - 2012

Explore the evolutionary significance and complex nature of voice perception in this 1-hour 14-minute lecture by Diana Sidtis from New York University. Delve into the multifaceted role of vocalization in biological evolution, its importance in survival and social behaviors across species, and its development into a sophisticated form of paralinguistic communication in humans. Examine the challenges in voice research due to the many-to-many relationship between voice characteristics and their cues. Discover the differences between familiar and unfamiliar voice perception, and learn about a proposed model of voice perception that combines featural analysis and pattern recognition. Gain insights into the preeminence of the personally familiar voice in evolution and human communication, supported by studies on individuals with focal brain damage.