So far we have read that the gestational baby develops its hearing between (approximately) weeks 14 and 16; Y that allows you to hear internal sounds such as the heartbeat, or the current of blood flow. We also knew that from week 27, the ear is fully formed, babies are able to perceive sounds external to the mother's body; according to this study echoed by SINC, the auditory cortex is reorganized and the nervous system matures, and this served as the basis for exploring the prenatal experience based on the perception of sounds and modeling of neural bases.
However, until now I had no record of any study with the characteristics and conclusions of this one that I now present to you: the Marqués Institute (Assisted Reproduction Clinic, Gynecology and Obstetrics in Barcelona), has published in the journal British Medical Ultrasound Society, a world-pioneering research on fetal hearing. They have discovered the formula for them to hear like us, so that the sound reaches them effectively in intensity and without distortion.
But how is that if the uterus is soundproof?
Well, vaginally, yes, as you hear it: a loudspeaker is placed in the vagina, so that the fetus is able to listen (almost) with the same intensity with which the music is emitted. As the organ (the vagina) is closed, the sound is not dispersed, and in addition to this, the sound does not have to pass through the abdominal wall, only the vaginal and uterine walls.
This research confirms that babies listen from week 16 of gestation; bear in mind that until now there were many doubts about the functionality of the already formed ear
Participants in the study were pregnant women between 14 and 39 weeks of gestation. The reaction of the fetus to hearing music has been observed by ultrasound, emitted both abdominally and vaginally; and results have been compared by emitting vibrations (without music) from the vagina.
What does the fetus do when it listens to music?
First of all, clarify that the music chosen to carry out the study was that of Johann Sebastian Bach (La Partita in A. Minor for Flute Alone - BWV 1013)
Normally, when awake fetuses spontaneously move their heads and limbs; they also stick out their tongues. But the music induces a response of vocalization movements by activating brain circuits to stimulate language and communication, from which it follows that learning begins in the womb. The baby's response to music is specific movements of the mouth and tongue, as can be seen in the following video:
What do the research observations contribute?
- Fetuses are shown to hear from the 16th week of pregnancy.
- It allows to rule out fetal deafness.
- The mother can verify the fetal well-being.
- We discover primitive brain circuits involved in communication. Upon hearing music, the fetus responds with vocalization movements, a step prior to singing and speaking.
The news has surprised and curious me in equal parts, I suppose like many other people. It has also left me with some questions that I hope to solve one day; For example, I have understood the potential applications of such an experiment, but I would like to know if there are possible risks, and if they are justifiable through the benefits I also think that Nature may have wisely foreseen the soundproofing of the uterus (as appropriate), So it won't hurt to make babies listen to music so closely?Of course it depends on the type of music.
On the other hand, let's not forget that the ear canal of children is small, and that causes a difference in the amount of decibels they perceive, compared to adults. They are also more vulnerable because their skull is thinner.
I also allow myself to remember that prolonged exposure to ultrasound energy (in this case, the ultrasounds that are done to check the reaction of babies), it is associated with different risks, if the technique is used indiscriminately.