Babies in the Womb are Capable of Learning at 34 Weeks' Gestation

Previous studies have shown that children begin learning right after they are born. Now, a recent study published in the journal Infant Behavior and Development found that they may begin processing and understanding information much sooner. 

Researchers at the University of Florida College of Nursing discovered that fetuses can start grasping new concepts during the 34th week of pregnancy.

"The mother's voice is the predominant source of sensory stimulation in the developing fetus," said Charlene Krueger, nursing researcher and associate professor in the University of Florida's College of Nursing, via Health Day. "This research highlights just how sophisticated the third trimester fetus really is and suggests that a mother's voice is involved in the development of early learning and memory capabilities. This could potentially affect how we approach the care and stimulation of the preterm infant."

For the study, researchers examined 32 pregnant women who were native English speakers. All of the participants were asked to recite a 15-second rhyme three times, twice a day from the 28th week to the 34th.

Researchers looked for any signs of learning, particularly during the 28th, 32th, 33th and 43th weeks of pregnancy by measuring the baby's heart rate while they listened to a recording of the rhyme recited by a female stranger. A slowing heart rate would be a sign of learning, according to researchers. Researchers also performed the experiment on a second group of fetuses that heard a different rhyme that was also recorded with a female stranger's voice.

Findings showed that by the 34th week, the fetuses that listened to the same rhyme as their mothers had a slightly slower heart rate than the control group, which was noticeable from the 34th week up to the 38th.

Furthermore, by the 38th week, the fetuses that heard the same rhyme that was recited by a female stranger had a deeper and more sustained slowing heart rate. However, those who listened to a different rhyme received by a stranger's voice had a quicker heart rate.

"This study helped us understand more about how early a fetus could learn a passage of speech and whether the passage could be remembered weeks later even without daily exposure to it," Krueger added, via Reuters. "This could have implications to those preterm infants who are born before 37 weeks of age and the impact an intervention such as their mother's voice may have on influencing better outcomes in this high-risk population."