Memory Forms at 30 Weeks in the Womb

Fetuses that are only 30 weeks old may already possess short-term memory, Dutch researchers report. The authors recruited 93 pregnant Dutch women, and then measured fetal responses to repeated "vibroacoustic" stimulation. "The stimuli were applied to the maternal abdomen above the fetal legs for a period of one second every 30 seconds. We counted the number of stimuli after which the fetus does not respond anymore." When the fetus makes the change to no longer responding, it is "habituated;" it recognizes the stimulus as "safe." Dr. Richard O. Jones, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine and medical director of obstetrics at Scott & White, said, "I almost wish I could do an ultrasound looking at the baby while they were making these loud noises. I would not be at all surprised to see the baby putting its hands over its ears." Forbes