Temporal patterning of cry and non-cry sounds in the first eight months of life

Abstract

Cry and non-cry vocalizations produced by two normal infants in the reflexive, pleasure voicing, and/or expansion periods of vocal develop ment were examined and compared with respect to different aspects of temporal patterning. Overall series duration and number of breath groups per series were significantly greater for cry than later emerging non-cry vocalizations. In spite of this developmental discontinuity, the temporal structure of non-cry resembled that of cry in many respects. The subtle differences in temporal patterning that were also detected may relate to physiological stress factors present only in cry. They suggest a partial reorganization of vocalization at the onset of pleasure voicing, possibly reflecting the maturation of higher level central nervous system nuclei.

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