Methodological problems in a study of fetal visual perception

Reid et al.[1] analysed data from 39 third-trimester fetuses, concluding that they showed a preferential head-orienting reaction towards lights projected through the uterine wall in a face-like arrangement, as opposed to an inverted triangle of dots. These results imply not only that assessment of v...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current biology 2018-05, Vol.28 (10), p.R594-R596
Main Authors: Scheel, Anne M., Ritchie, Stuart J., Brown, Nicholas J.L., Jacques, Steven L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Female
Fetus
Humans
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Trimester, Third
Psychology
Psykologi
Visual Perception
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Summary:Reid et al.[1] analysed data from 39 third-trimester fetuses, concluding that they showed a preferential head-orienting reaction towards lights projected through the uterine wall in a face-like arrangement, as opposed to an inverted triangle of dots. These results imply not only that assessment of visual-perceptive responses is possible in prenatal subjects, but also that a measurable preference for faces exists before birth. However, we have identified three substantial problems with Reid et al.’s [1] method and analyses, which we outline here. A recent study on visual perception in human fetuses suggested that a preference for face-like shapes may be present before birth. Scheel et al. comment on this study, describing three methodological and analytical problems that call its conclusions into question.
ISSN:0960-9822
1879-0445
1879-0445
DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2018.03.047