Objectives: To test the hypothesis that fetal memory persists into the neonatal period.
Study design: Forty-one newborns that had been repeatedly stimulated by using fetal vibroacoustic stimulation were compared with 31 controls. The same vibroacoustic stimulator was used for both fetal and neonatal stimulation tests. For the neonatal test the stimulus was applied against the mastoid of the newborn with the interposition of a specifically designed solid-liquid interface to simulate intrauterine conditions. Student's t-test was used.
Results: Neonatal habituation rate (the number of consecutive stimuli applied before a baby stopped responding) was significantly higher in those newborns who had not participate in the fetal habituation study (7.0+/-5.4 stimuli) than in those who had (4.1+/-4.1 stimuli), p=0.01.
Conclusions: Newborns who were stimulated in utero habituated earlier than those who had not previously experienced the stimulation. These results suggest that fetal memory persists into neonatal life.