Real-time Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rtMRI) was used to examine mechanisms of sound production in five beatboxers. rtMRI was found to be an effective tool with which to study the articulatory dynamics of this form of human vocal production; it provides a dynamic view of the entire midsagittal vocal tract and at a frame rate (83 fps) sufficient to observe the movement and coordination of critical articulators. The artists' repertoires included percussion elements generated using a wide range of articulatory and airstream mechanisms. Analysis of three common beatboxing sounds resulted in the finding that advanced beatboxers produce stronger ejectives and have greater control over different airstreams than novice beatboxers, to enhance the quality of their sounds. No difference in production mechanisms between males and females was observed. These data offer insights into the ways in which articulators can be trained and used to achieve specific acoustic goals.

Previous research suggests that beatboxers only use sounds that exist in the world's languages. This paper provides evidence to the contrary, showing that beatboxers use non-linguistic articulations and airstream mechanisms to produce many sound effects that have not been attested in any language. An analysis of real-time magnetic resonance videos of beatboxing reveals that beatboxers produce non-linguistic articulations such as ingressive retroflex trills and ingressive lateral bilabial trills. In addition, beatboxers can use both lingual egressive and pulmonic ingressive airstreams, neither of which have been reported in any language. The results of this study affect our understanding of the limits of the human vocal tract, and address questions about the mental units that encode music and phonological grammar.

Beatboxing is a musical artform in which performers use their vocal tract to create percussion sounds. Sometimes beatboxers perform as a part of an ensemble, using their vocal tract to provide a beat for other musicians; other times, beatboxers perform alone, where they might sing and produce percussion sounds simultaneously. We present methods in real-time magnetic resonance imaging (rtMRI) that offer new ways to study the production of beatboxing sounds. Using these tools, we show how beatboxers can concatenate intricate articulations to create music that mimics the sound of percussion instruments and other sound effects. The rtMRI methodology reveals how different beatboxers play their vocal folds to perform characteristic “clean” or breathy styles. By using rtMRI to characterize different beatboxing styles, we show how video signal processing can demystify the mechanics of artistic style.

Introduction: Vertigo/dizziness is defined as disturbed postural awareness and could range from a feeling of sensation of spinning of self or surrounding. Dizziness or disturbed postural awareness is a common presentation in varying age groups. Vertigo has varied clinical presentations. Classically, there are four vertigo syndromes: vertigo, imbalance/disequilibrium, presyncope/lightheadedness, and psychogenic dizziness. The present study was conducted to examine the various etiologies involved in these syndromes and to help unmask the overlaps between them. This study also aimed to further classify the etiologies underlying these vertigo syndromes and overlaps into peripheral or vestibular, central, and non-vestibular. This would help develop a comprehensive management protocol for vertigo of any origin.Methods: A prospective observational cross-sectional study was undertaken in a rural hospital in Central India. We studied patients with giddiness and categorized them into vertigo syndromes according to the site of origin of vertigo. We also compared overlaps in the presentation of vertigo.Results: Out of the 80 patients that were studied, vertigo with disequilibrium was observed in 72.50% of the patients. Non-vestibular vertigo of cervicogenic origin was the common cause of vertigo seen in 36.25% of the patients occurring alone or in association with vestibular vertigo. Among patients with overlaps, vestibular vertigo with non-vestibular vertigo was the most common etiology observed in 89.65% of the patients with overlaps. Conclusion:The syndrome of "vertigo with disequilibrium" was the commonest presentation in the patients studied, followed by "vertigo syndrome" as an isolated symptom, not associated with "disequilibrium." Ours is probably the first study to report this observation of overlaps of two syndromes, with diagnostic implications.

Background Active squamous chronic otitis media (COM) is an entity with a deep retraction pocket of the pars tensa or flaccida that has retained debris of squamous epithelial where the fundus cannot be visualized involving the pars flaccida or pars tensa, associated with cholesteatoma. Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is a known etiological factor for squamous COM, based on Wittmack’s theory; however, there are very few recent studies in this regard. Contracted mastoid pneumatisation (diploic or primary sclerosis) and presence of Korner’s septum have also been implicated to be associated with middle ear pathology, with conflicting results. Hence, the present study was undertaken to find out the association of three important factors, namely eustachian tube dysfunction, type of mastoid pneumatisation, and Korner’s septum related to mastoid buffer and middle ear ventilation in etiopathogenesis of active squamous chronic otitis media. The study also attempted to identify various conditions of nose and nasopharynx associated with ETD. This would enable us in appropriate surgical decision making with long term benefits in term of hearing and disease outcomes. Results Out of the total 37 patients, with active squamous chronic otitis media, it was observed that Eustachian tube dysfunction was found to be associated with 23 (62.16%). The majority of patients had a diploic/primary sclerosed mastoid pneumatization pattern which is 32 (86.48%) of patients. Korner’s septum was found to be associated with 13 (35.13%) patients of the total 37 patients with active squamous chronic otitis media. All these findings were found to be statistically significant. Conclusion In this study, we found that there was a statistically significant positive association of all etiological factors namely Eustachian tube dysfunction, contracted mastoid (diploic/primary sclerotic mastoid), and the presence of Korner’s septum with causation of active squamous otitis media. Out of these factors, occurrence of diploic mastoid seemed to be the most constant association. Eustachian tube dysfunction of mechanical type, associated with various nasal pathologies, most common was, deviated nasal septum.