Babies 'SINGING' in the womb: Foetus can 'hear music as early as 16 weeks

[Batu69]

Amazing video shows babies 'SINGING' in the womb: Foetus can 'hear music as early as 16 weeks - and moves their mouth and tongue in response'

• First study to show foetuses can hear sounds as young as 16 weeks
  
• Pregnant women between 14 and 39 weeks took part in the study


• Music played via an intravaginal device, and via speakers on the bump


• Found 87% of foetuses responded directly to intravaginal sounds


• Moved their mouths and tongues 'as if they were trying to sing'

Unborn babies are able to hear in the womb at just 16 weeks gestation, a new study has revealed.

For the first time scientists at the Institut Marques in Barcelona have shown a foetus is able to detect sounds, and furthermore, that they respond by moving their mouths and tongues.

It is accepted that an unborn baby's ear is fully developed at week 16 of a pregnancy.

But, until now experts did not believe a foetus could hear until week 18, at the earliest but more commonly nearer 26 weeks.

Dr Marisa Lopez-Teijon, who led the study, said the findings show a foetus responds to music transmitted intravaginally by moving their mouth and tongue, 'as if they were trying to speak or sing'.

Scientists in Barcelona claim to have shown for the first time that unborn babies can hear in the womb at just 16 weeks gestation

While showing for the first time that foetuses hear as early as 16 weeks, the study also has wider implications.

Researchers note their method could be used to rule out foetal deafness, and allows the parents to ensure foetal wellbeing.

The music stimulates the part of the brain involved in communication, and on hearing the sound the foetus responds with movements similar to vocalisation - the step prior to singing and speaking.

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