How Classical Music Affects a Baby in the Womb: New Discovery by Scientists
How Classical Music Affects a Baby in the Womb: New Discovery by Scientists
Scientists have studied heart rate variability, which provides insight into the development of the fetal autonomic nervous system.
New research has shown that classical music can have a calming effect on a baby's heartbeat in the womb, as well as promote the development of an unborn child, writes Interesting Engineering.
A team of researchers from Mexico studied how classical music affects the fetal heart rate.
"Parents who play soothing music can stimulate the fetal autonomic system... Our results suggest that these changes in fetal heart rate dynamics occur instantaneously during short-term fluctuations," said Dr. Eric Alonso Abarca-Castro, a member of the research team from Mexico.
Scientists studied heart rate variability (HRV) by measuring tiny variations in the time between each heartbeat. This HRV indicator, they say, is particularly valuable because it provides insight into the development of the fetal autonomic nervous system.
A higher degree of fetal heart rate variability is usually considered a positive sign, which indicates healthy maturation of this important system.
The study involved 36 pregnant women. Researchers played them two classical musical works: "The Swan" by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns and "Arpa de Oro" by Mexican composer Abundio Martinez.
Using external heart rate monitors, the researchers measured how the heart rate of the fetuses responded to the soothing music. This analysis allowed the researchers to see subtle changes in the fetal heart rate, which may indicate how music affects the development of the baby's nervous system.
"In general, we found that the effect of music leads to more stable and predictable patterns of fetal heart rate. We suggest that this instantaneous effect may stimulate the development of the fetal autonomic nervous system," said researcher Claudia Lerma.
The researchers suggest that their findings should be very important for future parents:
"Playing soothing music, especially classical music, can be a simple but powerful way to promote healthy fetal development."
Earlier, UNIAN reported on whether the human body can be completely renewed every 7 years. This common belief turned out to be inaccurate from a scientific point of view. Researchers explained that in reality this process is much more complex.
Scientists argue that if all the cells of the body had the same structure and performed the same functions, it would be possible to talk about their synchronous renewal. However, in the human body there are many different types of cells, each of which is renewed according to its own individual cycle.
