While anatomy of the larynx and vocal tract help make speech physically possible, they aren’t all that’s required.

First, they created a decoder to interpret the recorded brain activity patterns as instructions for moving parts of a virtual vocal tract (including the lips, tongue, jaw and larynx).

Producing turbulence in the vocal tract requires a very careful adjustment: the minimum constriction cross-section must be typically less than 1.5mm, but greater than 0mm.

A hybrid control system of a human vocal tract simulator.

Singers can also learn to project sound in certain ways so that it resonates better within their vocal tract.