Research Supervisors

Dr Miriam van Mersbergen

Research interests: Cognitive and emotional influences in vocal production with a personal interest in functional dysphonia, influence of the voice on the sense of self, use of psychophysiological tools such as electroencephalogram, heart-rate related measures, respiratory measures, electromyography, and skin conductance measures that integrate with classic acoustic and aerodynamic voice measures.  

Accepting mentees: Yes (2)

Biography

Miriam van Mersbergen is Associate Professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Memphis where she teaches Anatomy & Physiology or the Speech Mechanism, Voice Disorders, and Dysphagia. She began her academic career studying music and communication arts at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After a brief career in music she returned to academia and studied speech language pathology and vocology at The University of Iowa. She worked as a voice therapist in Chicago and Milwaukee before commencing doctoral studies in speech language hearing sciences and psychology at the University of Minnesota. She served as the Director of Vocal Arts and Sciences at the University of California, San Fransico, senior voice specialized speech language pathologist at the University of Wisconsin, Madison before returning to academia as a professor of speech language pathology at Northern Illinois University outside of the Chicago area.  In her current position at the University of Memphis, she is the director of the Voice, Emotion, & Cognition Laboratory where her research investigates emotional and cognitive influences on voice production. She integrates electroencephalographic, psychophysiological, acoustic, and aerodynamic measures to capture mind, body, voice interactions. She maintains an active clinical career specializing in voice, breathing, and cough disorders and continually yearns for more time to pursue her singing career.

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology/Speech Language Hearing Sciences - University of Minnesota

Master of Arts (Speech and Hearing Sciences) - University of Iowa

Bachelor of Arts (Music/Communication Arts and Sciences) - Calvin College

Publications

  • Tucker, A., Crow, K., Wark, M., Eichorn, N., & van Mersbergen, M. (in press). How Does Our Voice Reflect Who We Are? Connecting the Voice and the Self Using Implicit Association Tests. Journal of Voice, 0, 0.
  • Cantor-Cutiva, L.C., Ensar, B., van Mersbergen, M., Searl, J., Hunter, E. J. (in press). Vocal Effort in Clinical Settings of North and South America. Characterization from Clinician’s Reports. Journal of Voice, 0, 0.
  • Hyde, J., Feenaughty, L., & van Mersbergen, M. (in press). Does Vocalization Increase the Positive Valence of Emotion? Journal of Voice. doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2024.07.022. 
  • Nudelman, C., Bottalico, P, van Mersbergen, M., Nanjundeswaran, C. (in press). Toward Enhanced Voice-Related Self-Reports: Translation, Cross-Cultural Adaptation, and Validity.  Journal of Voice, 0,0.
  • Cortez-Aoyagia, M., Gustafson, E., Murphy, A. & van Mersbergen, M. (2023). A Measure of Swallow Effort Using the Borg CR 10. American Journal of Speech Language Pathology, 32, 2846–2857.
  • van Mersbergen, M. R., Marchetta, J., Foti, D., Pillow, E., Dasgupta, A., Cain, C., & Morvant, S. (in press). Comparison of Aerosol Emissions during Specific Speech Tasks.  Journal of Voice, 0,0. doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2023.05.004
  • Whitling, S., Botzum, H. M., & van Mersbergen, M. R., (in press). Degree of breathiness in a synthesized voice signal as it differentiates masculine vs. feminine voices.  Journal of Voice, 0,0. doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2023.04.022
  • Pointer, N. F., van Mersbergen, M. R., & Nanjundeswaran, C. D. (in press). Listeners’ Attitudes Towards Young Women with Glottal Fry. Journal of Voice, x(x), xx-xx. doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2022.09.007
  • Harper, S., Hazelton, K., & van Mersbergen, M. (in press).  Pregnancy and the Singing Voice: A Survey of What Singers Report. Journal of Voice, x(x), xx-xx. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2022.03.019. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 35637057.
  • Gartling, G. J., van Mersbergen, M., Crow, K., Lewandowski, A., Smith, L. J., & Gartner-Schmidt, J. L. (2021)   The Patient Experience: The Relationship Between Vocal Handicap, Congruency, Perceived Present Control, and Mood Across Four Voice Disorders.  Journal of Voice, 38(1), 244.e15–244.e27 [Epub] doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2021.08.007
  • Welch, B., van Mersbergen, M. R., & Helou, L. B. (2021) Listeners’ Perceptions of Speaker Personality Traits Based on Speech.  Journal of Speech Language Hearing Research,64, 4762-4771. doi: 10.1044/2021_JSLHR-20-00582
  • Baker, J., Barnett, C., Cavalli, L., Dietrich, M., Dixon, L., Duffy, J. R., Elias, A., Fraser, D. E., Freeburn, J. L., Gregory, C., McKenzie, K., Miller, N., Patterson, J., Roth, C., Roy, N., Short, J., Utianski, R., van Mersbergen, M., Vertigan, A., Carson, A., Stone , J., & McWhirter, L. (2021). Management of functional communication, swallowing, cough and related disorders: consensus recommendations for speech and language therapy.  Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 92(10), 1112-1125. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2021-326767
  • Kolker Rychel, A., & van Mersbergen, M. (2021). The Voice Range Profile: A Shortened Protocol Pilot Study. Journal of Voice, 37(5), 682–693. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2021.04.010
  • Berardi, M., van Mersbergen, M., & Hunter, E. J. (2021). Relationship between Tasked Vocal Effort Levels and Measures of Vocal Intensity. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 64, 1829-1840. doi: 10.1044/2021_JSLHR-20-00465
  • Nanjundeswaran, C., van Mersbergen, M., Banks, R., & Hunter, E. J. (2021) Vocal Fatigue Index in Teachers using Mokken Analysis. Journal of Voice, 37(2), 298.e1–298.e9. [Epub] doi:   10.1016/j.jvoice.2020.12.053
  • van Mersbergen, M. & Payne, A. (2021). Cognitive, Emotional, And Social Influences on Voice Production Elicited by Three Different Stroop Tasks. Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica, 73(4),326-334. doi: 10.1159/000508572
  • Lawrence, T & van Mersbergen, M.  (2021). The Relation Between Eating Disorders and Voice Disorders.  Journal of Voice, 35(5):753-764. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2020.01.011
  • van Mersbergen, M., Beckham, B., & Hunter, E. J. (2020). Do We Need a Measure of Vocal Effort? Clinician’s report of vocal effort in voice patients. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 6(1), 69-79.
  • Hunter, E.J., Cantor-Cutiva, L.C., van Leer, E., van Mersbergen, M., Nanjundeswaran, C., Bottalico, P.,Sandage, M.J., & Whitling, S, (2020).  Towards a consensus description of Vocal Effort, Vocal Load, Vocal Loading, and Vocal Fatigue. Journal of Speech Language Hearing Research, 63(2), 509-532. doi: 10.1044/2019_JSLHR-19-00057
  • Crow, K., van Mersbergen, M., & Payne, A. (2020). Vocal Congruence: The Voice and The Self Measured by Interoceptive Awareness. Journal of Voice, 35(2):324.e15-324.e28. [Epub] doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2019.08.027
  • van Mersbergen M., Vinney, L., & Payne, A. (2019) Cognitive Influences on Perceived Phonatory Exertion using the Borg CR 10. Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology, 45(3),123-133. doi: 10.1080/14015439.2019.1617895
  • van Mersbergen M. & Lanza E. (2018) Modulation of Relative Fundamental Frequency During Transient Emotional States. Journal of Voice, 33(6), 894-899. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2018.07.020
  • Nanjundeswaran, C., van Mersbergen, M., Morgan, K. (2018). Restructuring the Vocal Fatigue Index Using Mokken Scaling: Insights into the Complex Nature of Vocal Fatigue. Journal of Voice, 33(1), 110-114. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2017.09.008
  • van Leer, E. & van Mersbergen, M. (2016). Using the Borg CR10 Physical Exertion Scale as an Outcome Measure to Capture Patient-Perceived Vocal Effort. Journal of Voice, 31(3), 389-e19-389-e25. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2016.09.023
  • van Mersbergen, M., Lyons, P., & Riegler, D. (2015). Vocal responses in heighted states of arousal. Journal of Voice, 31(1):127. e 13-127 e19. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2015.12.011
  • Doherty, M. L., & van Mersbergen, M. (2015). Personal and Professional Characteristics of Music Educators: One size Does Not Fit All. Journal of Voice, 31(1):128.e7-128.e13. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2015.12.008
  • Vinney, L., van Mersbergen, M., Connor, N., & Turkstra, L. (2015). Vocal Control: Is it Susceptible to the Negative Effects of Self-regulatory Depletion? Journal of Voice, 30(5), 638.e21-638.e31. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2015.07.016
  • Ford Baldner, E., Doll, E., & van Mersbergen, M. (2015). A review of measures of vocal effort with a preliminary study on the establishment of a proposed vocal effort measure. Journal of Voice, 29(5), 530-41. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2014.08.017
  • Johns Fiedler, H. & & van Mersbergen, M. (2015). The prevalence of voice disorders in 9-1-1 emergency telecommunicators. Journal of Voice, 29(3), 389 e1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2014.08.008
  • van Mersbergen, M. (2014). Viva La Vagus. Choral Journal, 55(3), 61-67.
  • Deeter, A. & van Mersbergen, M. (2014). The Real Scoop on Tea. Journal of Singing,70(3), 309-319.
  • van Mersbergen, M. & Delany, M. (2013). Vocal Responses to Emotional Picture Viewing. Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology. 39(3), 99-107. doi: 10.3109/14015439.2013.777108
  • van Mersbergen, M. R., (2011). Voice disorders and personality: Understanding their interactions. Perspectives on Voice and Voice Disorders, 21(1), 31-38.
  • van Mersbergen, M. R., Patrick, C. J. & Glaze, L. E. (2008). Functional Dysphonia During Mental Imagery: Testing the Trait Theory of Voice Disorders. Journal of Speech Language Hearing Research, 51(6), 1405-1450. doi: 10.1044/1092-4388(2008/06-0216)
  • Solomon, N., Glaze, L., Arnold, R., & van Mersbergen, M. (2003). Effects of a vocally fatiguing task and systemic hydration on men's voices. Journal of Voice, 17(1), 31-46. doi: 10.1016/s0892-1997(03)00029-8
  • Verdolini, K., Min, Y., Titze, I. R., Lemke, J., Brown, K., van Mersbergen, M., Jiang, J., & Fisher, K. (2002). Biological mechanisms underlying voice changes due to dehydration. Journal of Speech and Hearing Science,45(2), 268-281. doi: 10.1044/1092-4388(2002/021)
  • van Mersbergen, M., Ostrem, J., Titze, I.R., (2001). Preparation of the voice speech-language pathologist: An educational survey. Journal of Voice, 15(2), 237-50. doi: 10.1016/S0892-1997(01)00024-8
  • van Mersbergen, M., Verdolini, K., Titze, I.R., (1999). Time of day effect on voice range profiles in vocally untrained females. Journal of Voice, 13(4), 518-28. doi: 10.1016/s0892-1997(99)80007-1
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