Foetuses can dance to music at 16 weeks

Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody drew one of the biggest reponses from the embryos
Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody drew one of the biggest reponses from the embryos
DENIS O’REGAN/CORBIS

The soothing tones of Mozart or Bach and the operatic rock of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody make foetuses as young as 16 weeks “dance” in the womb, a study has found.

Unborn babies respond to music ten weeks earlier than previously believed, the researchers claim.

Three-dimensional images showed foetuses opening their mouths and sticking out their tongues when music was played .

Previously, it was thought that the human auditory system did not develop until the 26th week of pregnancy. Researchers said that the study showed that music activated brain circuits and stimulated language and communication within the womb.

The findings could help in developing ultrasound scans and in diagnosing conditions such as deafness.

The study on 100 pregnant women, carried out by the Instituto Marquès