Why parents should invest Why parents should invest in teaching their unborn in teaching their unborn

children:children:

Fetal Fetal Auditory Auditory Learning:Learning:

IntroductionIntroduction

Mother – Child BondingMother – Child Bonding Language AcquisitionLanguage Acquisition Higher IntelligenceHigher Intelligence

Mother – Child Bonding:Mother – Child Bonding:

Neonates and full-term babies both show Neonates and full-term babies both show voice preferencesvoice preferences

Major contributors: DeCasper, Spence, Major contributors: DeCasper, Spence, Fifer Fifer find that infantsfind that infants Do not show a discrimination of male voicesDo not show a discrimination of male voices Prefer Prefer femalefemale voices to voices to malemale voices voices Prefer Prefer mother’smother’s voice to other voice to other femalesfemales’ voices’ voices Prefer Prefer mother’smother’s language to language to unknownunknown

languageslanguages

Experimental evidence:Experimental evidence: Procedure:Procedure:

3 – day old neonates were presented with 3 – day old neonates were presented with either their mothers voice or another either their mothers voice or another woman’s voice, depending on how often they woman’s voice, depending on how often they sucked on a fake nipplesucked on a fake nipple

Others presented with male / female stimuliOthers presented with male / female stimuli Conclusion:Conclusion:

““feedback to the maternal voice provided feedback to the maternal voice provided clear evidence of auditory discrimination; clear evidence of auditory discrimination; the probability of sucking … was greater the probability of sucking … was greater when the sucking produced the maternal when the sucking produced the maternal voice”voice”

Explanation of these Explanation of these results:results:

The uterine environment around the The uterine environment around the fetus blocks some soundsfetus blocks some sounds Blocks most of the spectrum of male Blocks most of the spectrum of male

speechspeech Allows in some information from female Allows in some information from female

speechspeech Internal vibration increases the volume Internal vibration increases the volume

of the maternal voiceof the maternal voice

Conclusions:Conclusions:

Reciprocal Reciprocal Mothers can feel child moving in response Mothers can feel child moving in response

to soundsto sounds Child experiences many physiological Child experiences many physiological

states similar to their motherstates similar to their mother Why bond?Why bond?

Allows for quicker identification of mother Allows for quicker identification of mother after deliveryafter delivery

Reinforced by her odor and manner of Reinforced by her odor and manner of handlinghandling

Speech Perception & Speech Perception & LanguageLanguage

What is learning?What is learning? Learning is a relatively permanent Learning is a relatively permanent

change in behavior that is developed change in behavior that is developed over times as a result of experienceover times as a result of experience

Speech Perception & Speech Perception & Language:Language:

Influence of prenatal auditory Influence of prenatal auditory stimulation on postnatal auditory stimulation on postnatal auditory preferencespreferences

Fetal familiarity with recurrent speech Fetal familiarity with recurrent speech soundssounds

Two major studies by Anthony DeCasper:Two major studies by Anthony DeCasper: Preference of a passage read by motherPreference of a passage read by mother Prenatal exposure to maternal speech Prenatal exposure to maternal speech

influences developmentinfluences development

Preference:Preference:

Hypothesis:Hypothesis: The child would show preference The child would show preference

towards a passage recited repeatedly by towards a passage recited repeatedly by mother during pregnancymother during pregnancy

Results:Results: Language-relevant cues in the passage Language-relevant cues in the passage

stimulate a response from the babystimulate a response from the baby

Development:Development:

Hypothesis:Hypothesis: Prenatal maternal speech has an Prenatal maternal speech has an

influence on the development of speech influence on the development of speech perceptionperception

Results:Results: Key characteristics of language are Key characteristics of language are

learned prenatallylearned prenatally Language acquisition skills are Language acquisition skills are

developeddeveloped

Higher Intelligence:Higher Intelligence:

What is Learning?What is Learning? John WatsonJohn Watson Piaget's sensorimotor stagesPiaget's sensorimotor stages Baby Plus productBaby Plus product ConclusionConclusion

Baby PlusBaby Plus

ConclusionConclusion Mother – Child BondingMother – Child Bonding

Newborns can already identify their mother’s Newborns can already identify their mother’s voicevoice

Allows for easier attachment to a significant Allows for easier attachment to a significant adultadult

Speech Perception & LanguageSpeech Perception & Language Prenatal exposure shapes later preferencePrenatal exposure shapes later preference Key parts of language may be learned Key parts of language may be learned

prenatallyprenatally Higher IntelligenceHigher Intelligence

Relatively permanent effectsRelatively permanent effects Important period of development before & Important period of development before &

after birthafter birth