Journal
INFANT BEHAVIOR & DEVELOPMENT
Volume 32, Issue 1, Pages 59-71Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2008.10.002
Keywords
Fetus; Audition; Language; Speech; Voice; Learning
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Fetal speech and language abilities were examined in 104 low-risk fetuses at 33-41 weeks gestational age using a familiarization/novelty paradigm. Fetuses were familiarized with a tape recording of either their mother or a female stranger reading the same passage and subsequently presented with a novel speaker or language: Studies (1) & (2) the alternate voice, (3) the father's voice, and (4) a female stranger speaking in native English or a foreign language (Mandarin); heart rate was recorded continuously. Data analyses revealed a novelty response to the mother's voice and a novel foreign language. An offset response was observed following termination of the father's and a female stranger's voice. These findings provide evidence of fetal attention, memory, and learning of voices and language, indicating that newborn speech/language abilities have their origins before birth. They suggest that neural networks sensitive to properties of the mother's voice and native-language speech are being formed. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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