Do newborns exert more cognitive effort for unfamiliar sounds?

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Newborns Exert More Cognitive Effort for Unfamiliar Sounds

Newborns demonstrate a greater cognitive effort when exposed to unfamiliar nursery rhymes compared to those they heard in utero. This heightened brain activity suggests that infants are actively processing and learning new auditory information.
Unfamiliar Rhymes Elicit Stronger Brain Responses

Research indicates that when babies listen to nursery rhymes they have not encountered before, their brains exhibit a more significant electrical response. This finding implies that the novelty of the sound requires more cognitive resources from the infant. For instance, in experiments conducted by the University of Salzburg, unfamiliar German nursery rhymes led to stronger electrical brain responses in newborns.
Infants Differentiate Between Known and Unknown Sounds

The study also revealed that infants can distinguish between familiar and altered versions of nursery rhymes. When the rhythm or sound frequencies of familiar rhymes were changed, such as playing them backwards or removing high-frequency sounds, babies required more effort to follow along. This ability to detect discrepancies highlights their capacity to differentiate between various auditory stimuli.
Prenatal Exposure Aids Auditory Processing

The research suggests that prenatal exposure to nursery rhymes prepares infants for auditory recognition after birth. Babies who had heard specific rhymes during the last weeks of pregnancy, from around the 34th week, appeared to process these familiar tunes more easily. This indicates a developing sensitivity to auditory patterns and musicality even before birth.

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Do newborns exert more cognitive effort for unfamiliar sounds?

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