Before We Are Born: The First Sounds We Hear

How early do we begin to hear, remember, and respond to music?

This episode explores prenatal and postnatal sensory development, focusing on how fetuses and newborns experience sound and music. Even though sound is filtered through maternal tissue and amniotic fluid, babies in the womb can still perceive important musical features such as pitch, rhythm, and changes in intensity.

Research also suggests that infants can retain auditory memories from before birth, responding differently to familiar melodies heard during pregnancy. The discussion then broadens to other developing senses, including newborn vision, facial recognition, and taste preferences.

Together, these findings offer a fascinating look at how sensory experience begins before birth and how early exposure to sound may shape the first stages of perception, memory, and interaction with the world.

Watch the bonus video here.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Brought to you by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Houston Creative Media.