DZD scientist Preißl in „Unser Leben – Wie es beginnt“
The current Terra X documentary "Unser Leben – Wie es beginnt" hosted by Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim, offers a fascinating insight into the current state of knowledge in prenatal, infant, and early childhood research. A central theme of the documentary is the question of how and when our consciousness arises.
In this context, the research work of Prof. Dr. Hubert Preißl and his team at the Helmholtz Zentrum München and the University Hospital Tübingen is presented. The team uses one of only two devices worldwide for functional magnetoencephalography (f-MEG). The f-MEG is a non-invasive method for recording fetal brain and heart activity. Magnetic fields are measured over the surface of the maternal abdomen using highly sensitive sensors.
Higher cognitive performance, such as initial memory formation or prenatal learning, can be examined in this way. This provides interesting insights into the world of fetal perception. How does the fetal brain react to stimuli from the outside world such as light and sound or even the maternal speech?
Research shows that the fetal brain is able to distinguish repeated stimuli from new ones. The brain activity is lower in response to repeated stimuli than to new ones. Additionally, Prof. Dr. Hubert Preißl explains, “ We have many indications that language and the recognition of language are processes that take place in the maternal womb. There is evidence that the fetus is able to distinguish its maternal voice from that of a stranger”.
The documentary offers valuable scientific insights into the earliest developmental stages of human life and fetal perception. The documentary is available on the ZDF media library (link) and will also be broadcast on ZDF on February 9, 2025 at 7.30 pm on ZDF.