The fetus also knows how to yawn

Scientists at Durham University have discovered that the fetus in the womb is not only hiccup, swallowing, stretching and yawning.

Picture 1 of The fetus also knows how to yawn
The fetus also knows how to yawn. (Nadja Reissland)

While some scientists argue that the fetus can't yawn, it's just a mouth-watering act, Durham University scientists identify the fetus as yawning. In the journal PLOS ONE released on Wednesday, British researchers said their work could clearly distinguish between yawning and mouth opening based on the time the mouth opened. They used a 4D video to look at all the time the baby opened her mouth.

Nadja Reissland, Durham School of Psychology, who led the study, said the function and importance of yawning in fetuses has not been determined, but it is a sign that the fetus is developing well. strong. The fetus is not yawning because of sleepiness but a sign of early brain development during pregnancy.

The study was conducted on 8 female fetuses and 7 male fetuses from 24 to 36 weeks of pregnancy. The researchers found that yawning began to decline from 28 weeks and there was no significant difference in the frequency of yawning in male and female fetuses.