Foetal heart rate and maternal emotional state

Benson, Pauline; Little, Betsy C.; Talbert, D.G.; Dewhurst, Sir John; Priest, R. G.

doi:10.1111/j.2044-8341.1987.tb02725.x

Cited by 19 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…as measured using a Quest 1700 Precision Impulse Sound Level Meter, and generally varied according to respective natural volumes in the environment~i.e., screams or a jet taking off were generally louder than chirping birds or a whirring fan!. Some studies have attempted to match sound stimuli more precisely for physical properties such as intensity and frequency~e.g., Benson et al, 1987!. Beyond the abovementioned range restriction, matching sound stimuli was not a practical option in the present research, as the primary goal was to use ecologically valid sounds that effectively communicate affect.…”

Section: Materials and Designmentioning

confidence: 97%

Affective reactions to acoustic stimuli

2000

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Emotional reactions to naturally occurring sounds (e.g., screams, erotica, bombs, etc.) were investigated in two studies. In Experiment 1, subjects rated the pleasure and arousal elicited when listening to each of 60 sounds, followed by an incidental free recall task. The shape of the two-dimensional affective space defined by the mean ratings for each sound was similar to that previously obtained for pictures, and, like memory for pictures, free recall was highest for emotionally arousing stimuli. In Experiment 2, autonomic and facial electromyographic (EMG) activity were recorded while a new group of subjects listened to the same set of sounds; the startle reflex was measured using visual probes. Listening to unpleasant sounds resulted in larger startle reflexes, more corrugator EMG activity, and larger heart rate deceleration compared with listening to pleasant sounds. Electrodermal reactions were larger for emotionally arousing than for neutral materials. Taken together, the data suggest that acoustic cues activate the appetitive and defensive motivational circuits underlying emotional expression in ways similar to pictures.

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Section: Materials and Designmentioning

confidence: 97%

Affective reactions to acoustic stimuli

2000

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“…This includes increased heart rate stress patterns, pulsatility index of the middle cerebral artery [20], disrupted neurobehavioral development [21,22], and altered behavioral reactivity [23][24][25][26]. In newborns, the effects of antenatal stress continue, as evidenced by reduced birth weight, increased risk for prematurity [1,27], and irritability.…”

Section: Developmental Consequences Of Antenatal Maternal Distress Anmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fetal Serotonin Signaling: Setting Pathways for Early Childhood Development and Behavior

Oberlander

2012

Journal of Adolescent Health

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“…Several studies reported that increased maternal anxiety or psychosocial stress is associated with hyperactive fetuses and fetal tachycardia [30,31], a sudden fall in fetal heart rate (FHR) followed by over-swing recovery [32,33], significant FHR increases [34], increased fetal motor activity [35], more time in quiet sleep [36], and higher pulsatility index in the fetal middle cerebral artery [37]. Conversely, reduced anxiety or positive emotional states result in decreased fetal breathing and increased body movements [38,39].…”

Section: Gestational Stress Influences Human Fetal Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to Prenatal Psychobiological Stress Exerts Programming Influences on the Mother and Her Fetus

Sandman

Davis²,

Buß³

et al. 2011

Neuroendocrinology

247

199

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Background/Aims: Accumulating evidence from a relatively small number of prospective studies indicates that exposure to prenatal stress profoundly influences the developing human fetus with consequences that persist into childhood and very likely forever. Methods: Maternal/fetal dyads are assessed at ∼20, ∼25, ∼31 and ∼36 weeks of gestation. Infant assessments begin 24 h after delivery with the collection of cortisol and behavioral responses to the painful stress of the heel-stick procedure and measures of neonatal neuromuscular maturity. Infant cognitive, neuromotor development, stress and emotional regulation are evaluated at 3, 6 12 and 24 months of age. Maternal psychosocial stress and demographic information is collected in parallel with infant assessments. Child neurodevelopment is assessed with cognitive tests, measures of adjustment and brain imaging between 5 and 8 years of age. Results:Psychobiological markers of stress during pregnancy, especially early in gestation, result in delayed fetal maturation, disrupted emotional regulation and impaired cognitive performance during infancy and decreased brain volume in areas associated with learning and memory in 6- to 8-year-old children. We review findings from our projects that maternal endocrine alterations that accompany pregnancy and influence fetal/infant/child development are associated with decreased affective responses to stress, altered memory function and increased risk for postpartum depression. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the mother and her fetus both are influenced by exposure to psychosocial and biological stress. The findings that fetal and maternal programming occur in parallel may have important implications for long-term child development and mother/child interactions.

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Foetal heart rate and maternal emotional state

Cited by 19 publications

References 1 publication

Affective reactions to acoustic stimuli

Affective reactions to acoustic stimuli

Fetal Serotonin Signaling: Setting Pathways for Early Childhood Development and Behavior

Exposure to Prenatal Psychobiological Stress Exerts Programming Influences on the Mother and Her Fetus

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