Near-term fetuses of different mammalian species, including humans, exhibit functional sensory and learning capabilities. The neurobiological literature indicates that the unborn organism processes sensory stimuli present in the amniotic fluid, retains this information for considerable amounts of time, and is also capable of associating such stimuli with biologically relevant events. This research has stimulated studies aimed at the analysis of fetal and neonatal learning about ethanol, a topic that constitutes the core of the present review. Ethanol has characteristic sensory (olfactory, taste, and trigeminal) attributes and can exert pharmacologic reinforcing effects. The studies under examination support the hypothesis that low to moderate levels of maternal ethanol intoxication during late pregnancy set the opportunity for fetal learning about ethanol. These levels of prenatal ethanol exposure do not generate evident morphologic or neurobehavioral alterations in the offspring, but they exert a significant impact upon later ethanol-seeking and intake behaviors. Supported by preclinical and clinical findings, this review contributes to strengthening the case for the ability of prenatal ethanol exposure to have effects on the postnatal organism. Keywords ethanol; fetal learning; associative conditioningThis review analyzes the impact of low to moderate prenatal levels of exposure to ethanol on later responding to ethanol and stimuli associated with ethanol. These levels of ethanol exposure might be viewed as "safe" but nevertheless have negative effects that might not be noticed for many years.We previously reviewed the literature, examining possible associations between early ontogenetic experiences with alcohol and subsequent affinity for ethanol ingestion and sensitivity to its reinforcing effects (postabsorptive consequences that increase behaviors aimed at obtaining ethanol or that generate preferences to stimuli signaling such consequences) (1). This review took into account fetal and infantile experiences involving acute or chronic exposure to ethanol and how they exerted significant effects upon subsequent ethanol 1To whom correspondence should be addressed at Instituto Ferreyra,

Prenatal associative learning can be established through temporal contiguity between fetal chemosensory stimulation and alcohol's unconditioned properties. This associative memory survives to infancy and modulates intake patterns and behavioral reactivity to substances that were prenatally paired with alcohol intoxication.