Scientists at the University of Barcelona have explored how daily exposure to music or a mother’s singing in the final weeks of pregnancy can shape the early development of the baby. The findings indicate that such auditory experiences may support more robust neural encoding of speech sounds in newborns, contributing to a stronger foundation for later language skills. These results appear in a recent issue of Developmental Science, highlighting the potential long-term benefits of prenatal sound exposure for infant communication abilities.
Earlier research has already suggested that when a pregnant person listens to well-structured, high-quality music, the baby’s neural networks may adapt in ways that strengthen connections between the brain’s hemispheres. This enhanced interhemispheric communication is linked to improved language learning capabilities and reading readiness in early childhood. The new Barcelona study builds on this by examining how everyday musical experiences during the final trimester relate to speech processing shortly after birth.
In the current study, researchers measured the frequency-following response, or FFR, in 60 newborns between 12 and 72 hours old using electroencephalography. FFR reflects how the auditory system follows the acoustic properties of sounds and is now recognized as an integrated outcome of both subcortical and cortical auditory processing. In clinical contexts, FFR has been discussed as a potential biomarker for assessing the risk of speech and language disorders, and the Barcelona team used it to examine prenatal music exposure effects.
The results show that consistent daily listening to music during pregnancy—particularly in the last trimester—is associated with more reliable encoding of speech stimuli in the infant brain. In practical terms, this improved encoding could support more efficient speech processing and earlier language acquisition as the child develops. The research team notes that these benefits are observed even when the exposure occurs as part of everyday life, rather than through structured, formal music programs.
An important nuance from the study is that while prenatal music exposure appears to enhance speech encoding, it did not speed up the overall conduction speed of neural pathways. In other words, the benefit seems to lie in how the brain processes and interprets speech sounds rather than in a blanket increase in neural transmission speed. This distinction helps clarify how prenatal auditory experiences shape early language outcomes without altering the fundamental timing of neural signals, according to the researchers.
Overall, the Barcelona findings support a growing view that the prenatal auditory environment can leave measurable traces in newborns that help their brains prepare for language learning. Parents and caregivers may consider incorporating regular, relaxed music listening or singing into late-pregnancy routines as a potential contributor to a child’s future communication skills. The researchers emphasize that these practices are not about forced training but about meaningful exposure to sound that aligns with the baby’s developing auditory system, as discussed in the current report and related literature.
The study’s authors also highlight that the effects observed are compatible with the broader pattern seen in early infancy, where early auditory experiences set a trajectory for language readiness. These insights add to a body of evidence suggesting that prenatal soundscapes matter, reinforcing the idea that the prenatal period is a dynamic window for shaping neural circuits involved in language. While more work is needed to understand the exact mechanisms and long-term implications, the findings offer a hopeful perspective for families seeking to support early speech and language development through everyday listening experiences.