Psychologists have revealed thanks to even more detailed 4D scans, that babies up to 16 weeks are able to express various emotions with their face, while they’re in their mother's womb.
Psychologists said that the reason babies are using such detailed facial movements in their mother’s womb, is as a result of preparation for the live interactions they will have with their parents after birth.
The study focused on ultrasound scans of 15 healthy foetuses at regular intervals, between 24 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.
The research, led by psychologists at Durham University in the UK, monitored the development of the unborn infants’ emotional and language abilities.
Dr Nadja Reissland, who is in charge of the research said she came to this conclusion after using facial studies to base on the babies facial interactions in the womb.
“This suggests that babies are more neurologically prepared to use the emotionally expressive side of their face and that the neurological preparedness to use language develops later when it is needed.”
The study also revealed that a baby’s yawning moment is used to stimulate brain area to begin experimenting further with movement.
The team also found from studying the unborn infants they were able to anticipate touch in the womb, again believed to prepare them for life outside of the womb.
However, researchers said it’s unclear whether an unborn children actively feels the emotions they express in the womb, or whether they are simply practising using the facial movements to get ready for life after birth.
However, researchers said it’s unclear whether an unborn children actively feels the emotions they express in the womb, or whether they are simply practising using the facial movements to get ready for life after birth.
