The human fetus preferentially engages with face-like visual stimuli

Reid, Vincent Michael and Dunn, Kirsty Jayne and Young, Robert James and Amu, Johnson and Donovan, Tim and Reissland, Nadja (2017) The human fetus preferentially engages with face-like visual stimuli. Current Biology, 27 (12). pp. 1825-1828. ISSN 0960-9822

[thumbnail of Face_Curr_Biology_V3.1.1_2]
Preview
PDF (Face_Curr_Biology_V3.1.1_2)
Face_Curr_Biology_V3.1.1_2.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (658kB)
[thumbnail of Reid_Current_Biology_2017]
Preview
PDF (Reid_Current_Biology_2017)
Reid_Current_Biology_2017.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (729kB)

Abstract

In the third trimester of pregnancy the human fetus has the capacity to process perceptual information [1,2,3]. With advances in 4D ultrasound technology, detailed assessment of fetal behavior [4] is now possible. Furthermore, modelling of intrauterine conditions has indicated a substantially greater luminance within the uterus than previously thought [5]. Consequently, light conveying perceptual content could be projected through the uterine wall and perceived by the fetus, dependent on how light interfaces with maternal tissue. We do know that human infants at birth show a preference to engage with a top-heavy, face-like stimulus when contrasted with all other forms of stimuli [6,7]. However, the viability of performing such an experiment based on visual stimuli projected through the uterine wall with fetal participants is not currently known. We examined fetal head turns to visually presented upright and inverted face-like stimuli. Here we show that the fetus in the third trimester of pregnancy is more likely to engage with top-heavy configural stimuli when contrasted to bottom heavy visual stimuli, in a manner similar to results with newborn participants. The current study suggests that postnatal experience is not required for this preference. In addition, we describe a new method whereby it is possible to deliver specific visual stimuli to the fetus. This new technique provides an important new pathway for the assessment of prenatal visual perceptual capacities.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Current Biology
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100
Subjects:
?? fetusface preferencevisual perceptionagricultural and biological sciences(all)biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology(all) ??
ID Code:
86654
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
09 Jun 2017 13:28
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
06 Jan 2024 00:20