The sounds that the fetus hears while in the womb have the effect of stimulating the brain.

Humans begin learning language while still in the womb , according to a new study by scientists on infants' ability to acquire listening and speaking skills.

A team of researchers, led by experts at the University of Padua in Italy, observed specific changes in the brain patterns of newborns when they were exposed to speech. The results showed that the baby's brain was in tune with the mother's language and the basic rhythm of pronunciation.

Fetuses can recognize and absorb language before they are born.

In a recently published paper, the researchers claim: " These results are the most convincing evidence to date that language experiences in the womb shape the functional organization of the infant's brain before birth."

The study involved 33 infants, aged 1-5 days, whose mothers spoke French. The babies listened to recordings of the story "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" in French, English and Spanish.

Using caps fitted with electrodes, researchers found that children responded differently to French recordings.

Specifically, children's brain waves have longer-range temporal correlations, meaning they are perceiving and processing speech.

This proves that right after birth, humans can recognize and absorb the language we heard while in the womb (fetuses can hear external sounds after about 7 months of formation).

Not only that, the research team also discovered that brain waves when children listen to French always oscillate at a specific frequency, associated with the natural rhythm of speech.

This result means that the baby is ready to learn to talk as early as a few days old.

Scientists believe that a child's brain learning begins before he or she is even born.

“The newborn brain may already be in an optimal state to process speech and language efficiently, underpinning their surprising ability to learn language ,” the researchers said.

Previous research has shown that humans may learn to listen while still in the womb, with newborns preferring their mother's voice, for example.

Unlike the previous study, the recent study was designed to take a closer look at the neural activity taking place in children.

Of course, this does not mean that humans are tied to their mother tongue. Babies are perfectly capable of learning a language other than their mother's.

This research is just one more piece of evidence that shows that a child's brain learning begins before birth.

Next, scientists may look at the effects of different types of sounds on babies' brains.

There is evidence that humans are able to recognize musical melodies they heard while still in the womb.

The results of the new project will be used to test whether neural changes during auditory learning are similar to changes during language acquisition.

This research paper is published in the journal Science Advances.

Using caps fitted with electrodes, researchers found that children responded differently to French recordings.

Specifically, children's brain waves have longer-range temporal correlations, meaning they are perceiving and processing speech.

This proves that right after birth, humans can recognize and absorb the language we heard while in the womb (fetuses can hear external sounds after about 7 months of formation).

Not only that, the research team also discovered that brain waves when children listen to French always oscillate at a specific frequency, associated with the natural rhythm of speech.

This result means that the baby is ready to learn to talk as early as a few days old.

“The newborn brain may already be in an optimal state to process speech and language efficiently, underpinning their surprising ability to learn language ,” the researchers said.