A fetus can become familiar with a foreign language in its mother’s womb

Neuropsychology researchers at the University of Montreal have made a fascinating discovery. They found that it is possible to become familiar with a foreign language even before birth.

After repeatedly playing another language to fetuses in the wombs of women from completely French-speaking backgrounds, they demonstrated that their brains reacted in the same way after birth as when hearing their mother tongue.

To reach this conclusion, they played audiobooks in Hebrew or German to the fetuses for five weeks. These languages were chosen because they are “phonologically and acoustically different from French,” according to Anne Gallagher, the professor of pediatric neuropsychology who led the study.

Starting at 35 weeks of pregnancy, the 60 women recruited played children’s stories to th