Fetal Sonic Stimulation

The Royal College of General Practitioners

Official Reference Book - London 1995

Brent Logan Ph.D.

Based upon several important discoveries in human development, a new science has emerged over the past decade, with profound implications for the individual and the society. As an increasing number of people have begun applying this discipline, professionals are challenged to respond from a knowledgeable perspective.

Only in recent years has accurate information about the fetus become available, primarily due to ultrasound, in utero monitors, and fiber optic television which permits a clear picture of life inside the womb. During this time academic journals have begun to document the considerable benefits of maternal-fetal interaction (Van de Carr and Lehrer, 1986). Enrichment effects have been observed in animal trials (Diamond, 1988). However, as researchers provided better data, mothers throughout the world spontaneously coupled their revised understanding with a technological innovation, the portable audio cassette player. It should be emphasized that this was no orchestrated event, but rather a generic manifestation or perceived need.

Historical Background

During the 1980s, infants before birth began experiencing music played directly to them through headphones stretched across the maternal abdomen. While this phenomenon was in itself unusual, reports of significant gains in postnatal performance move beyond anecdotes to describe consistency in cognitive, social, creative and even physiological areas, although many of the families to which these children were being born were of middle or lower socio-economic background.

The fetal responses of these infants were seen to be synchronized with the sonic stimulation, as demonstrated by periodic limb movements which, because they averaged many minutes, could not have been habituated or reflexive. Sonic stimulation led the shorter labor, lower numbers of Cesarean deliveries, and non-traumatized births, with newborns characterized by relaxed bodies, open eyes, unclenched hands and little or no crying. General health and physical strength were excellent, if not exceptional. Remarkable affability, concentration and language acquisition distinguished all stimulated children, who began walking several months before the norm. Superior academic achievement and prodigious IQs in the 150 range were balanced with strong interpersonal skills.

Prelearning Theory

An explanation for this phenomenon was first suggested by the author in 1982 as prelearning theory (Logan, 1987, 1988), in which normative apoptosis or cell death in the fetal brain, which toward the end of gestation extensively atrophies its original neuronal production (Chun et al., 1987), can be decreased through environmental enrichment in the form of sonic stimulation, resulting in enhanced neurology (the opposite of retardation). The most effective methodology for this developmental improvement used electronically synthesized replications of the maternal in utero blood pulse. These were increased in tempo to advance fetal information processing ability (signified by protoalpha rhythm when measured electroencephalographically) through progressive imprinting stimuli (Salk, 1962).

Experimental Confirmation

After determining by hydrophone that most sounds in the mother's immediate environment reach her unborn child, though attenuated by 30-35 decibels, and that the constant acoustic volume inside the womb (from maternal blood pumping past) ranges to 95 decibels, in 1986 the author began administering several hours of appropriate sonic stimulation daily in a pilot study of twelve infants (including twins). The outcomes, which were confirmed in later controlled trials with greater numbers of children, exceeded those where the stimulation had not been standardized (Logan, 1989, 1991, 1992).

Commercialization of this approach started in 1989, and more than 25,000 prenatally advantaged children have so far been born on every continent, the oldest of them now being eight years old. The latest generation product, developed by Prenatal Institute and trade-named BabyPlus, is a small microchip unit situated on the maternal abdomen by a clothing clip or nylon belt; no other fetal stimulation technology is being marketed. Clinical trials by independent researchers continue to verify the originally observed benefits, and no negative factors of any kind have been noted.

A pilot study showing significantly more mature EEG where prenatal sonic stimulation was involved is the basis for extensive trials using tomographic means (Logan, 1993).

Both the immediate and the long term benefits of this innovation appear consistent with evolutionary theory, greater environmental demands evoking an ontogenetic, and potentially phylogenetic, performance enhancement. Research institutions are invited to conduct product evaluations with any relevant measurements; practitioners are encouraged to investigate sonic enrichment before birth as part of standard care. Either may contact BabyPlus (UK) Ltd, 1-7 Harley Street, London, W1N 1DA (Tel: 0171 637 1828) for copies of published articles on current technology.

References

Chun JJ, Nakamura MJ and Shatz CJ (1987) Transient cells of the mammalian telencephalon are peptideimmunoreactive neurons. Nature 325, 617-20.

Diamond MC (1988) Enriching Heredity, New York, The Free Press/Macmillan.

Logan B (1987) Teaching the unborn; precept and practice. Pre and Perinatal Psychology Journal 2, 14-17.

Logan B (1988) The ultimate preventive; prenatal stimulation. In Fedor-Freybergh PG and Vogel MLV (Eds) Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Medicine. Carnforth, Parthenon Publishing.

Logan B (1989) Project Prelearn; the efficacy of in utero teaching. International Journal or Prenatal and Perinatal Studies 1, 365-80.

Logan B (1991) Infant outcomes of a prenatal stimulation pilot study. Pre and Perinatal Psychology Journal 6, 7-31.

Logan B (1992) Prelearning; trials and trends. International Journal or Prenatal and Perinatal Studies 4, 67-9.

Logan B (1993) Biological measurements of prenatal stimulation. In Blum T (Ed) Prenatal Perception, Learning and Bonding. Berlin, Leonardo Publishers.

Salk L (1962) Mother's heartbeat as an imprinting stimulus. Transactions of the New York Academy of Sciences 24, 753-83.

Van de Carr FR and Lehrer M (1986) Enhancing early speech, parental bonding and infant physical development using prenatal intervention in standard obstetric practice. Pre and Perinatal Psychology Journal 1, 20-30.

For more information see BabyPlus.

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