Do foetuses communicate? Foetal responses to interactive versus non-interactive maternal voice and touch: An exploratory analysis

The main aim of this study was to uncover any evidence for communicative engagement in foetuses. Taking into consideration the continuity development pre- and postnatally, social responsiveness newborn baby sensorimotor competence foetus, it is plausible assume that readiness develops before birth. During interactive noninteractive applications three conditions: mother’s voice, touch her abdomen a control condition, foetuses’ (N = 12, 2–33 gestational weeks) behaviours were recorded through 4D scanning using Voluson S10 ultrasound coded frame-by-frame. Foetuses displayed differential right-hand self-touch response touch. There reduction movement when mother touching abdomen, compared talking or during baseline conditions. also responses condition but not talk condition. A similar result found with regards face responses. longer duration mouth opening first 60 s, foetuses showed significant increase sucking all other This compare versus foetus. findings suggest third trimester discriminate between non-interactive external stimuli respond contingent interactions.