Maturation of fetal responses to music.

Maturation of fetal response to music was characterized over the last trimester of pregnancy using a 5-minute piano recording of Brahms' Lullaby, played at an average of 95, 100, 105 or 110 dB (A). Within 30 seconds of the onset of the music, the youngest fetuses (28-32 weeks GA) showed a heart rate increase limited to the two highest dB levels; over gestation, the threshold level decreased and a response shift from acceleration to deceleration was observed for the lower dB levels, indicating attention to the stimulus. Over 5 minutes of music, fetuses older than 33 weeks GA showed a sustained increase in heart rate; body movement changes occurred at 35 weeks GA.

Maternal depression and increased fetal activity.

Pregnant women with (n = 45) and without (n = 45) symptoms of depression (CES-D score of 16 or more) were provided ultrasound examinations during the second and third trimesters. An analysis of variance on the cross-sectional data yielded a significant diagnosis by gestational month interaction effect (P < 0.05).

Fetal activity following stimulation of the mother's abdomen, feet, and hands.

Fetal activity during midgestation (M age=19.8 weeks) was studied in response to vibratory stimulation of the mother's abdomen (at the height of the fetal head), foot massage, hand massage, or control condition (no stimulation). Consistent with previous research conducted during midgestation, the fetuses of mothers who received two trials of 3-sec, 60-Hz vibratory stimulation did not show changes in movement.

Fetal responsiveness to maternal passive swinging in low heart rate variability state: effects of stimulation direction and duration.

Pregnant women, carrying end of gestation fetuses (38-41 weeks gestational age) were either gently rocked in an anterior posterior plane in a rocking chair or gently swayed laterally in a garden glider. Stimulation lasted for either 5 or 26 s (R5 & R26, SW5 & SW26). Fetal heart rate (HR) (bpm) and ultrasonically detected fetal movements were recorded 26 s before and during stimulation.

Fetal discrimination of low-pitched musical notes.

Cardiac responses of 36- to 39-week-old (GA) fetuses were tested with a no-delay pulsed stimulation paradigm while exhibiting a low heart rate (HR) variability (the HR pattern recorded when fetuses are in the 1f behavioral state). We examined whether fetuses could discriminate between two low-pitched piano notes, D4 (F(0) = 292 Hz/292-1800 Hz) and C5 (F(0) = 518 Hz/518-300 Hz). Seventy percent of all fetuses reacted to the onset of the first note (D4 or C5) with the expected cardiac deceleration.