Name: What we learn before we're born
Uploaded: 2011-11-29T16:31:26Z
Duration: 16 min 29 s
Description: Pop quiz: When does learning begin? Answer: Before we are born. Science writer Annie Murphy Paul talks through new research that shows how much we learn in the womb -- from the lilt of our native language to our soon-to-be-favorite foods.

Annie Murphy Paul: What we learn before we're born

What we learn before we're born

Pop quiz: When does learning begin? Answer: Before we are born. Science writer Annie Murphy Paul talks through new research that shows how much we learn in the womb -- from the lilt of our native language to our soon-to-be-favorite foods.

Learning starts in the womb, where fetuses absorb details about language, taste, and the world outside. Studies show newborns recognize their mother’s voice and even cry in the accent of their native language. Babies remember flavors their mothers ate during pregnancy, and adapt their bodies to signals about abundance or scarcity. Early experiences in utero can shape everything from future food preferences to lifelong health.