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Active Perception perspectives claim that action is closely related to perception. An empirical approach that supports these theories is the minimalist, in which participants perform a task using an interface that provides minimal information. Their exploratory movements are crucial to generating a meaningful sequence of information. Previous studies analyzed sensorimotor trajectories describing qualitative strategies and linear quantification of participants' movement performance, but that approach struggles to capture the behavior of non-stationary data. In the present study, we applied the recurrence plot (RP) and recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) to study the structure of sensorimotor trajectories developed by participants trying to discriminate between two invisible geometric shapes (Triangle or Rectangle). The exploratory movements were made using a computer mouse and sonification-mediated feedback was provided, which depended exclusively on whether the pointer was inside or outside the shape. We applied RP and RQA to the sensorimotor trajectories, with the aim of studying their fine structure characteristics, focusing on their repetitive patterns. Recurrence analysis proved to be useful for quantifying differences in dynamic behavior that emerge when participants explore invisible virtual geometric shapes. The differences obtained in RQA-based measures associated with the vertical structures allowed to postulate the existence of particular exploration strategies for each figure. It was also possible to determine that the complexity of the dynamics changed according to the shape. We discuss these results in light of antecedents in haptic and visual perceptual exploration.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly modified the behavior of societies. The application of isolation measures during the crisis resulted in changes in the acoustic environment. The aim of this work was to characterize the perception of the acoustic environment during the COVID-19 lockdown of people residing in Argentina in 2020. A descriptive cross-sectional correlational study was carried out. A virtual survey was conducted from April 14 to 26, 2020, and was answered mainly by social network users. During this period, Argentina was in a strict lockdown. The sample was finally composed of 1371 people between 18 and 79 years old. It was observed that most of the participants preferred the new acoustic environment. Mainly in the larger cities, before the isolation, mechanical sounds predominated, accompanied by the perception of irritation. Confinement brought a decrease in mechanical sounds and an increase in biological sounds, associated with feelings of tranquility and happiness. The time window opened by the lockdown offered an interesting scenario to assess the effect of anthropogenic noise pollution on the urban environment. This result offers a subjective approach, which contributes to understanding the link between individuals and communities with the environment.

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The effect of ethanol in modulating the intensity and duration of the perceived sourness induced by citric acid was studied. Magnitude Estimation-Converging Limits method was applied to rate the sourness of seven solutions (3-70 mM) of citric acid in aqueous solution presented alone and mixed with 8% V/V or 15% V/V ethanol. Dynamic sourness ratings of 5, 15, and 45 mM citric acid alone and mixed with the same two ethanol levels were assessed by the Time Intensity Method (TI). Results were consistent with both methods. Sourness changed with citric acid concentration and ethanol levels. From TI measurements, a similar interactive pattern was obtained for parameters as duration, area under the curve, peak and average intensity.

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Se presenta una nueva metodología que combina el análisis acústico y perceptual tradicional con algoritmos de la dinámica no lineal. Específicamente, coeficientes de Lyapunov aplicados a la medición de voces con alta perturbación. Se evaluaron emisiones de la vocal /a/ aislada y sostenida en 15 hablantes del español de Buenos Aires normales y 7 con parálisis unilaterales, de diferente sexo y edad. Las emisiones se registraron digitalmente en una cámara acústica con un micrófono dinámico vocal de respuesta conocida y a una intensidad de habla conversacional.Para la medición de los coeficientes se empleó un algoritmo Wolf (1985) modificado por Giovanni (1999). Se utilizaron índices tradicionales de perturbación de jitter (Horii, 1975 y Milenkovic 1987) y se evaluó perceptualmente el grado de severidad de la disfonía con la escala GRBAS (Hirano,1981). Se presentan para su comparación los valores de los coeficientes de Lyapunov y Jitter en voces normales y con parálisis. Las mayores alteraciones muestran exponentes de Lyapunov promedio de 0,83 versus 0,46 en voces normales. Los resultados y los gráficos obtenidos verifican el comportamiento caótico de la voz y demuestran la utilidad clínica de la medición. Los exponentes distinguen el grupo control respecto del grupo con parálisis.

A new methodology that combines traditional acoustic analysis and perceptual algorithms for nonlinear dynamics is presented. Specifically, Lyapunov coefficients applied to measure high disturbance's voices. Vowel / a / isolated and sustained from 15 normal Buenos Aires Spanish speakers and 7 with unilateral paralysis of different sex and age were evaluated. The emissions were digitally recorded in an acoustic chamber with a dynamic vocal microphone and conversational speech intensity. For the measurement of the coefficients, Wolf algorithm (1985) modified by Giovanni (1999) was used. The traditional measures of perturbation jitter (Horii, 1975 and Milenkovic 1987) and perceptual scale GRBAS (Hirano, 1981) applied to evaluate the degree of severity of dysphonia. The values of Lyapunov coefficients and jitter in normal voices and paralysis were presented for comparison. The voices with highest alterations showed average Lyapunov exponents of 0.83 versus 0.46 in normal voices. The results and graphs obtained show the chaotic behavior of voice and demonstrate the clinical utility of measurement. The exponents differentiate control groups from group with paralysis.

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En este trabajo se presentan dos sistemas de análisis acústico del habla con aplicaciones a la descripción de segmentos de discurso espontáneo y un sistema de reconocimiento automático de habla espontánea orientado a la detección de palabras. El primer sistema de análisis presenta detalladamente todos los rasgos instintivos segmentales y suprasegmentales del habla en forma simultánea asociados a la frecuencia, energía y duración. El segundo presenta automáticamente los parámetros físicos asociados a la entonación en una superficie que cuantifica el campo vocal del hablante y mide el rango vocal y dinámico en el discurso hablado. Se presenta un histograma de la frecuencia fundamental útil para comparar las tendencias entonativas de sesión a sesión. Finalmente se ha desarrollado una herramienta de reconocimiento con modelos acústicos para el español hablado en la Argentina. El mismo transcribe los sonidos grabados a texto y posibilita la aplicación de otras herramientas para el procesamiento de lenguaje natural.(AU)

In this paper two acoustic speech analysis systems are presented with applications to the description of spontaneous speech segments and a system of automatic spontaneousspeech recognition oriented to word detection. The first analysis system presents in detail all segment and supra-segment instinct speech features simultaneously and associated frequency, power and duration. The second automatically displays thephysical parameters associated to intonation in a surface that quantifies the vocal field of the speaker and measures the vocal and dynamic range in spoken discourse. A histogram of the fundamental frequency proves useful to compare intonation tendencies from session to session. Finally a recognition tool with acoustic models was developed for Spanish spoken in Argentina. It transcribes the recorded text sounds and enables the application of other tools for natural language processing.(AU)

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En este trabajo se presentan dos sistemas de análisis acústico del habla con aplicaciones a la descripción de segmentos de discurso espontáneo y un sistema de reconocimiento automático de habla espontánea orientado a la detección de palabras. El primer sistema de análisis presenta detalladamente todos los rasgos instintivos segmentales y suprasegmentales del habla en forma simultánea asociados a la frecuencia, energía y duración. El segundo presenta automáticamente los parámetros físicos asociados a la entonación en una superficie que cuantifica el campo vocal del hablante y mide el rango vocal y dinámico en el discurso hablado. Se presenta un histograma de la frecuencia fundamental útil para comparar las tendencias entonativas de sesión a sesión. Finalmente se ha desarrollado una herramienta de reconocimiento con modelos acústicos para el español hablado en la Argentina. El mismo transcribe los sonidos grabados a texto y posibilita la aplicación de otras herramientas para el procesamiento de lenguaje natural.

In this paper two acoustic speech analysis systems are presented with applications to the description of spontaneous speech segments and a system of automatic spontaneousspeech recognition oriented to word detection. The first analysis system presents in detail all segment and supra-segment instinct speech features simultaneously and associated frequency, power and duration. The second automatically displays thephysical parameters associated to intonation in a surface that quantifies the vocal field of the speaker and measures the vocal and dynamic range in spoken discourse. A histogram of the fundamental frequency proves useful to compare intonation tendencies from session to session. Finally a recognition tool with acoustic models was developed for Spanish spoken in Argentina. It transcribes the recorded text sounds and enables the application of other tools for natural language processing.

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