Why parents should invest in teaching their unborn children: Fetal Auditory Learning:

Introduction Mother – Child Bonding Mother – Child Bonding Language Acquisition Language Acquisition Higher Intelligence Higher Intelligence

Mother – Child Bonding: Neonates and full-term babies both show voice preferences Neonates and full-term babies both show voice preferences Major contributors: DeCasper, Spence, Fifer find that infants Major contributors: DeCasper, Spence, Fifer find that infants Do not show a discrimination of male voices Do not show a discrimination of male voices Prefer female voices to male voices Prefer female voices to male voices Prefer mother’s voice to other females’ voices Prefer mother’s voice to other females’ voices Prefer mother’s language to unknown languages Prefer mother’s language to unknown languages

Experimental evidence: Procedure: Procedure: 3 – day old neonates were presented with either their mothers voice or another woman’s voice, depending on how often they sucked on a fake nipple 3 – day old neonates were presented with either their mothers voice or another woman’s voice, depending on how often they sucked on a fake nipple Others presented with male / female stimuli Others presented with male / female stimuli Conclusion: Conclusion: “feedback to the maternal voice provided clear evidence of auditory discrimination; the probability of sucking … was greater when the sucking produced the maternal voice” “feedback to the maternal voice provided clear evidence of auditory discrimination; the probability of sucking … was greater when the sucking produced the maternal voice”

Explanation of these results: The uterine environment around the fetus blocks some sounds The uterine environment around the fetus blocks some sounds Blocks most of the spectrum of male speech Blocks most of the spectrum of male speech Allows in some information from female speech Allows in some information from female speech Internal vibration increases the volume of the maternal voice Internal vibration increases the volume of the maternal voice

Conclusions: Reciprocal Reciprocal Mothers can feel child moving in response to sounds Mothers can feel child moving in response to sounds Child experiences many physiological states similar to their mother Child experiences many physiological states similar to their mother Why bond? Why bond? Allows for quicker identification of mother after delivery Allows for quicker identification of mother after delivery Reinforced by her odor and manner of handling Reinforced by her odor and manner of handling

Speech Perception & Language What is learning? What is learning? Learning is a relatively permanent change in behavior that is developed over times as a result of experience Learning is a relatively permanent change in behavior that is developed over times as a result of experience

Speech Perception & Language: Influence of prenatal auditory stimulation on postnatal auditory preferences Influence of prenatal auditory stimulation on postnatal auditory preferences Fetal familiarity with recurrent speech sounds Fetal familiarity with recurrent speech sounds Two major studies by Anthony DeCasper: Two major studies by Anthony DeCasper: Preference of a passage read by mother Preference of a passage read by mother Prenatal exposure to maternal speech influences development Prenatal exposure to maternal speech influences development

Preference: Hypothesis: Hypothesis: The child would show preference towards a passage recited repeatedly by mother during pregnancy The child would show preference towards a passage recited repeatedly by mother during pregnancy Results: Results: Language-relevant cues in the passage stimulate a response from the baby Language-relevant cues in the passage stimulate a response from the baby

Development: Hypothesis: Hypothesis: Prenatal maternal speech has an influence on the development of speech perception Prenatal maternal speech has an influence on the development of speech perception Results: Results: Key characteristics of language are learned prenatally Key characteristics of language are learned prenatally Language acquisition skills are developed Language acquisition skills are developed

Higher Intelligence: What is Learning? What is Learning? John Watson John Watson Piaget's sensorimotor stages Piaget's sensorimotor stages Baby Plus product Baby Plus product Conclusion Conclusion

Baby Plus

Conclusion Mother – Child Bonding Mother – Child Bonding Newborns can already identify their mother’s voice Newborns can already identify their mother’s voice Allows for easier attachment to a significant adult Allows for easier attachment to a significant adult Speech Perception & Language Speech Perception & Language Prenatal exposure shapes later preference Prenatal exposure shapes later preference Key parts of language may be learned prenatally Key parts of language may be learned prenatally Higher Intelligence Higher Intelligence Relatively permanent effects Relatively permanent effects Important period of development before & after birth Important period of development before & after birth