The cognitive capacities of near-term fetuses are even more remarkable. For example, fetuses can distinguish between two pairs of nonsense syllables {"biba" versus "babi"}. How do you know? Get this-Mom says "Biba, biba, biba" repeatedly while fetal heart rate is monitored. "Boring {or perhaps lulling}," thinks the fetus, and heart rate slows. Then Mom switches to "babi." If the fetus doesn't distinguish between the two, heart rate deceleration continues. But if the difference is noted-"Whoa, what happened?"-heart rate increases. Which is what DeCasper reported.61
( Robert M. Sapolsky )
[ Behave: The Biology of Humans ]
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