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Taiwan Awakening News – November 4, 2013
The mystery of how early human memory functions may soon be solved. A study by the University of Helsinki in Finland found that infants can still remember songs and melodies they heard in the womb even four months after birth. Researchers believe this is because the critical period for hearing development in infants begins at 27 weeks of pregnancy and continues until six months after birth. The study's results confirm that fetuses can begin developing memory very early, which may help unravel the workings of human memory mechanisms.
The University of Helsinki conducted experiments with 24 pregnant women. Half of the women played the song "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" to their fetuses weekly during the later stages of pregnancy. Researchers discovered that when the babies were born or heard the song again four months later, electroencephalogram (EEG) tests showed stronger brain reactions compared to infants who had never heard the song, indicating that the babies responded to sounds they had heard in the womb.
Researcher Huotilainen stated that the period from 27 weeks of pregnancy to six months after birth is critical for hearing development in infants. "This is the first study to examine how long fetuses can retain memories of songs, and the results are very helpful. By studying the various possible reactions in the human brain, we may be able to solve the current mystery of how early memory mechanisms function."
Researcher Partanen noted, "It was previously known that fetuses could remember certain fragments of language, but this study found that infants begin learning very early, and the effects can last in the brain for more than four months." However, the study also found that infants only remember the original version of the song they heard. If a remixed version of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" was played, the babies' brainwave responses became less noticeable.
Earlier studies have also found that newborns can remember words they heard in the womb or the theme songs of TV dramas their mothers frequently watched. London's Great Ormond Street Hospital previously confirmed that lullabies may indeed have "magical" effects. Research showed that when lullabies are played, fetuses subconsciously experience a sense of comfort because the melody closely resembles the rhythm of a baby's heartbeat, and the tones provide a soothing effect.
The findings of this study were published in the journal *PLoS One*.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E8……A% 84% E6% AD% 8C- 070600645. html
Prenatal Wonders! Babies Recognize Songs Heard in the Womb
The mystery of how early human memory functions may soon be solved. A study by the University of Helsinki in Finland found that infants can still remember songs and melodies they heard in the womb even four months after birth. Researchers believe this is because the critical period for hearing development in infants begins at 27 weeks of pregnancy and continues until six months after birth. The study's results confirm that fetuses can begin developing memory very early, which may help unravel the workings of human memory mechanisms.
The University of Helsinki conducted experiments with 24 pregnant women. Half of the women played the song "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" to their fetuses weekly during the later stages of pregnancy. Researchers discovered that when the babies were born or heard the song again four months later, electroencephalogram (EEG) tests showed stronger brain reactions compared to infants who had never heard the song, indicating that the babies responded to sounds they had heard in the womb.
Researcher Huotilainen stated that the period from 27 weeks of pregnancy to six months after birth is critical for hearing development in infants. "This is the first study to examine how long fetuses can retain memories of songs, and the results are very helpful. By studying the various possible reactions in the human brain, we may be able to solve the current mystery of how early memory mechanisms function."
Researcher Partanen noted, "It was previously known that fetuses could remember certain fragments of language, but this study found that infants begin learning very early, and the effects can last in the brain for more than four months." However, the study also found that infants only remember the original version of the song they heard. If a remixed version of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" was played, the babies' brainwave responses became less noticeable.
Earlier studies have also found that newborns can remember words they heard in the womb or the theme songs of TV dramas their mothers frequently watched. London's Great Ormond Street Hospital previously confirmed that lullabies may indeed have "magical" effects. Research showed that when lullabies are played, fetuses subconsciously experience a sense of comfort because the melody closely resembles the rhythm of a baby's heartbeat, and the tones provide a soothing effect.
The findings of this study were published in the journal *PLoS One*.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E8……A% 84% E6% AD% 8C- 070600645. html