Can babies learn in utero?
From the moment of birth, an infant begins rapidly absorbing information, piecing together the framework of his or her future self. But what happens during all that time the bun’s still in the oven? Does learning begin in utero? Absolutely, says Rick Gilmore. “There’s ample evidence that fetuses are picking up information from the outside world. They’re especially receptive to sounds from the mother’s body and the external environment.” Gilmore, an associate professor of psychology at Penn State, points to a well-known study conducted by Anthony DeCasper at the University of South Carolina that seems to prove the existence of prenatal learning. “Mothers were instructed to read Dr. Seuss out loud while they were pregnant,” Gilmore explains. “When the babies were born, researchers tested to see if they recognized Dr. Seuss against other stories, and their mother’s voice against other readers. In both cases, the infants were able to pick up on the vocal patterns they’d become familiar wit
