Baby Memory: Does a Fetus Remember?
We are still learning much about the cognitive abilities of infants. We have known for some time that children are capable of learning at a much earlier age than previously thought. In fact there are companies taking advantage of this by pushing products that help children to recognize words before they can even speak.
A new study reported in the Washington Times has revealed something that will probably come as a surprise: The unborn fetus actually has memories beginning at roughly 30 weeks. This would be about two months before the baby’s birth. In the study, the researchers used sound and vibration along with sonography to arrive at their findings.
Scientist at the Maastricht University Medical Center observed 100 women experiencing a healthy pregnancy concluded that “results indicated that a 34-week-old fetus is able to store information and retrieve it four weeks later.”
How The Pregnancy Study Was Conducted
During the final eight weeks of the pregnancy, each woman received a series of buzzes on their bellies lasting for one second. The buzzes were produced using a fetal vibroacoustic stimulator which is used to measure a baby’s heart rate and to assess general health. The baby is monitored to determine its response to the sounds. The researchers noted the baby’s eyes and mouth, as well as its body language over a period of three weeks. This was done with ultrasound imaging to determine how the unborn baby learned during the period. Over time, the researchers claim, the babies became so used to the sound that they stopped responding to it. This is known as “habituation.” It is the baby’s way of deciding that it won’t be harmed by the stimulus.
This would suggest that expectant parents who talk or read to their unborn babies may be on the right track. It is said that when a baby is born, he or she is already used to the sound of mom’s voice. Even those who are not totally convinced by the study should try to communicate with their unborn babies. Apart from bonding with baby, it is a nice way to start off development.
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Secret Mommy says...
This does not surprise me at all. In fact, my mother in law tells a story about how my husband told her when he was 3 or 4 years old that he remembered when he was “a fish.” I don’t know if he really remembered being a fetus or not, but he sure was convinced he did!