VOCAL FUNDAMENTAL-FREQUENCY CHARACTERISTICS OF INFANT HUNGER CRIES - BIRTH TO 12 MONTHS

The vocal fundamental frequency (F-o) characteristics of four infants' hunger cries are reported. The infants were audio recorded at monthly intervals during the first year of life. In general, each infant's F- o increased across the one-year period. The increase in F-o was attrib uted to the transition from early reflexive crying to intentional voca lization behavior, rather than anatomical and physiological growth inf luences. Discussion focuses on the regulation of infant crying behavio r across the first year of life, as well as the diagnostic implication s of these findings.