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[Auditory competence of the newborn infant with regard to specific and non-specific rhythms]
Insights
Newborn infants can selectively discriminate between different auditory stimuli, including heartbeats and metronome sounds at varying rates. This indicates early auditory processing capabilities in neonates.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal physiology
- Auditory perception
- Developmental psychology
Abstract:
This study is based on the analysis of modifications in the heart-rate of newborn infants (n = 12) hearing heartbeats at 72 and 120 bpm and metronome beats at 45, 72 and 120 bpm. The results show a selective discrimination of these acoustic stimulations by the infant.