T
Toby Jones
Guest
29 September, 2000 UK Babies 'can learn' in the womb
Babies are able to learn and remember while still in the womb, according to a study. Doctors in the
Netherlands used sound to determine if an unborn baby could react, respond to and recognise a
specific noise.
They found that while a foetus moved when they first heard the sound, they later became used to it
and did not react.
According to the doctors, this showed the foetuses were able to remember the sound and "learn" it
was harmless.
The doctors carried out a study on 25 unborn babies between 37 and 40 weeks old.
They applied an acoustic sound to the womb and directed it above the unborn babies leg. Each of the
foetuses reacted.
They determined whether the unborn baby had "learnt" not to react to the sound if their body no
longer moved, after four consecutive sounds.
They applied consecutive sounds at three different intervals; initially, 10 minutes later and 24
hours later.
'Became used to sound'
Six of the foetuses were excluded from the study because of irregular movements in response to
the sound.
The remaining babies all "became used to" or habituated to the sound and did not react soon after it
was initially applied.
They stopped reacting to the sound more quickly when it was reapplied after 10 minutes and similarly
24 hours later.
Dr Cathelijne van Heteren from University Hospital Maastricht said the study showed foetuses had
both short and long-term memories.
"Compared with the initial habituation test, foetuses not only habituated more rapidly 10 minutes
later but also after 24 hours.
"We therefore conclude that foetuses have a short term memory of at least 10 minutes and a long-term
memory of at least 24 hours."
She added: "Foetuses are able to memorise the stimuli in utero, although they may need more than one
stimulus to establish recognition."
In the past, it was thought that babies were born without a functional memory.
Previous studies suggested that they could remember but these were only undertaken after the
baby was born.
This is one of the first studies to examine babies before they are born and to suggest that they can
remember and learn.
The study is published in the medical journal The Lancet.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/947001.stm
Babies are able to learn and remember while still in the womb, according to a study. Doctors in the
Netherlands used sound to determine if an unborn baby could react, respond to and recognise a
specific noise.
They found that while a foetus moved when they first heard the sound, they later became used to it
and did not react.
According to the doctors, this showed the foetuses were able to remember the sound and "learn" it
was harmless.
The doctors carried out a study on 25 unborn babies between 37 and 40 weeks old.
They applied an acoustic sound to the womb and directed it above the unborn babies leg. Each of the
foetuses reacted.
They determined whether the unborn baby had "learnt" not to react to the sound if their body no
longer moved, after four consecutive sounds.
They applied consecutive sounds at three different intervals; initially, 10 minutes later and 24
hours later.
'Became used to sound'
Six of the foetuses were excluded from the study because of irregular movements in response to
the sound.
The remaining babies all "became used to" or habituated to the sound and did not react soon after it
was initially applied.
They stopped reacting to the sound more quickly when it was reapplied after 10 minutes and similarly
24 hours later.
Dr Cathelijne van Heteren from University Hospital Maastricht said the study showed foetuses had
both short and long-term memories.
"Compared with the initial habituation test, foetuses not only habituated more rapidly 10 minutes
later but also after 24 hours.
"We therefore conclude that foetuses have a short term memory of at least 10 minutes and a long-term
memory of at least 24 hours."
She added: "Foetuses are able to memorise the stimuli in utero, although they may need more than one
stimulus to establish recognition."
In the past, it was thought that babies were born without a functional memory.
Previous studies suggested that they could remember but these were only undertaken after the
baby was born.
This is one of the first studies to examine babies before they are born and to suggest that they can
remember and learn.
The study is published in the medical journal The Lancet.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/947001.stm