Fetal memory: The effects of prenatal auditory experience on human development

The paper presents evidence that the intrauterine auditory environment plays a key role in shaping later auditory development. The acoustic environment in utero begins to shape the auditory system much earlier than sensory systems that are not exposed to input until after birth. The effects of prenatal auditory experience can be observed both among fetus through different paradigms and in the new-borns within few hours or days after birth. This manuscript collects a comprehensive snapshot of the work in this research area presenting evidence of a consistent number of papers published in this topic of study. Furthermore, the potential function of learning prenatally is explored in terms of its relevance for perinatal development. So, we describe growing evidence that externally generated sounds and music influence the developing foetus, and argue that such prenatal auditory experience may also set the trajectory for the development.