Have you ever wondered how cats produce that distinctive purring sound? Well, researchers have finally unraveled the mystery. According to The Guardian, the deep purring in cats is similar to the vocal fry technique used by singers like Katy Perry and Kurt Cobain. This unique low register is more commonly found in animals with long vocal cords, such as elephants or cheetahs. Dr. Christian Herbst, a researcher, explains that cats have a special “pad” within their vocal folds, allowing them to produce sounds at very low frequencies despite their small size. (The Guardian)
The breakthrough discovery was made by Dr. Herbst and his team, who dissected the larynxes of eight euthanized cats. They found fibrous tissue masses in the vocal cords, and through air compression and movement, they observed how these tissues could produce sound at such a low register. This finding debunks previous beliefs that purring was solely controlled by the brain. Julia Henning, a doctoral candidate studying feline behavior, emphasizes that there is still much to learn about cats and their bodies. Further research is needed to delve into other aspects of cat anatomy and function. (Forbes)
Interestingly, vocal fry, which was once considered a speech impediment, has become a popular trend not only in music but also in everyday speech. Science.org highlights that a recent study discovered that a majority of college-aged women frequently switch to vocal fry when speaking. Speech scientist Nassima Abdelli-Beruh suggests that this linguistic shift may serve as a social link among members of a group. (And in case you were wondering, yes, cats do listen to us!) (Science.org)
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
