What is the impact of muscle tension on vocal frequency?

Muscle tension plays a crucial role in determining vocal frequency because it directly influences the tension and mass of the vocal folds. When muscle tension is increased, the vocal folds become tighter and thinner, which results in a higher pitch or frequency of the voice. This is due to the principle of elasticity, where the tighter the vocal folds, the faster they vibrate during phonation. As the tension increases, the frequency of these vibrations also rises, leading to a higher vocal frequency.

On the other hand, if muscle tension were to decrease, the vocal folds would become looser and thicker, resulting in a slower vibration rate and therefore a lower pitch. Options suggesting that muscle tension has no effect, decreases frequency, or only affects loudness overlook the fundamental relationship between muscle tension and the vibratory characteristics of the vocal folds. Thus, the impact of muscle tension on vocal frequency is significant, making a higher tension correlate with a higher vocal frequency, which is why the indication of an increase in frequency as the correct understanding reflects the physiological dynamics of voice production.