Fetal memory: does it exist? What does it do?
Abstract
Whether fetal memory exists has attracted interest for many thousands of years. The following review draws on recent experimental evidence to consider two questions: does the fetus have a memory? And, if so, what function(s) does it serve? Evidence from fetal learning paradigms of classical conditioning, habituation and exposure learning reveal that the fetus does have a memory. By comparison little attention has been paid to the possible function of memory. Possible functions discussed are: practice, recognition of and attachment to the mother, promotion of breastfeeding, and language acquisition. It is concluded that the fetus does possess a memory but that more attention to the functions of fetal memory will guide future studies of fetal memory abilities.
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Third-trimester fetuses register, recognize, and differentially respond to varied stimuli as measured by heart rate changes.
“Third-trimester fetuses register, recognize, and differentially respond to varied stimuli measured by heart rate changes during habituation paradigms.20-24”
From The transition to parenthood in obstetrics: enhancing prenatal care for 2-generation impact (2022) · cites this paper as [21]
Cites
Two-day-olds prefer their native language
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The Transfer of Alcohol to Human Milk
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Adaptive fetal learning: Prenatal exposure to garlic affects postnatal preferences
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Self-citationQuerleu, D., Renard, X., Versyp, F., Delrue, L., & Crépin, G. (1988) · European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology · doi:10.1016/0028-2243(88)90030-5 · Cited by 197 · see citing works
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Self-citationHuman fetal "olfactory" learning
Hepper, P. G. (1995) · Research Portal (Queen's University Belfast) · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Self-citationOlfaction in utero: can the rodent model be generalized?
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Aspects of fetal learning and memory
Dirix, C. E. H., Nijhuis, J. G., Jongsma, H. W., & Hornstra, G. (2009) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01329.x · Cited by 57 · see citing works
The transition to parenthood in obstetrics: enhancing prenatal care for 2-generation impact
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- Authors
- Hepper, P.
- Venue
- Acta Paediatrica
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 1996-10
- Volume
- 85
- Issue
- s416
- Pages
- 16-20
- ISSN
- 0365-1436 (ISSN-L)
- 0803-5253
- 1651-2227
- OpenAlex
- W2020668449
- Cited by
- 179
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 51 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 0.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Acta Paediatrica (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Portal (Queen's University Belfast) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Keywords
- fetal memory, fetal learning, classical conditioning, habituation, maternal recognition, maternal attachment, breastfeeding
- MeSH terms
- Breast Feeding, Fetus, Habituation, Psychophysiologic, Humans, Learning, Memory, Object Attachment
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