On the difference between negative damping and eigenmode synchronization as two phonation onset mechanisms

Negative damping and eigenmode synchronization as two different mechanisms of phonation onset are distinguished. Although both mechanisms lead to a favorable phase relationship between the flow pressure and the vocal fold motion as required for a net energy transfer into the vocal folds, the underlying mechanisms for this favorable phase relationship are different. The negative damping mechanism relies on glottal aerodynamics or acoustics to establish before onset and maintain after onset the favorable phase relationship, and therefore has minimum requirements on vocal fold geometry and biomechanics. A single degree-of-freedom vocal fold model is all that is needed for self-oscillation in the presence of a negative damping mechanism. In contrast, the mechanism of eigenmode synchronization critically depends on the geometrical and biomechanical properties of the vocal folds (at least 2-degrees-of-freedom are required), and has little requirement on the glottal aerodynamics other than flow separation. The favorable phase relation is established once synchronization occurs, regardless of the phase relationship imposed by glottal aerodynamics before onset. Unlike that of the negative damping mechanism, initiation of eigenmode synchronization requires neither a velocity-dependent flow pressure nor an alternating convergent-divergent glottis. The clinical implications of the distinctions between these two mechanisms are discussed.