From Womb to the World: Foetal sensory abilities and their post-birth effects 

Dr Beyza Üstün-Elayan, University of Cambridge 

18th February 2025, 4-5pm. In-person and online. 

Talk summary

The foetal environment is the initial setting where a foetus begins to learn about its surroundings. In the womb, a foetus is exposed to a range of stimuli, including flavours, sounds, and light, all of which are perceived through their developing sensory abilities. 

By the last trimester of pregnancy, a foetus can sense touch, hear, see, taste, and smell. These perceptions are often observable as orofacial and touch behaviours via 4D ultrasonography. During this critical period of maximum neuroplasticity, such experiences provide essential opportunities for the foetus to learn about the outside world. 

This seminar will specifically focus on the development of chemosensory and auditory perceptions in the womb and examine how this adaptive mechanism influences and shapes postnatal behaviours. 

Speaker Bio

Dr. Beyza Üstün-Elayan completed her PhD in Developmental Psychology at Durham University. Her research interests include fetal-infant sensory development, early mother-infant interactions and wellbeing, and facial expressions. Beyza currently works as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Cambridge BabyLab, Department of Psychology, and is involved in the PIPKIN Perinatal Imaging Partnership with Families study (www.pipkinstudy.com).

Her research in PIPKIN focuses on the transnatal continuum from prenatal to postnatal life, specifically investigating how fetal auditory experiences influence post-birth behaviours and development.   

To book

To book your free place, please go to bit.ly/CAFR18Feb