As any of us know that are parents there is nothing more precious than our babies practicing their facial expressions–or when they burst out in smile during their slumber. A new research study today discovered that babies even practice their facial expressions (of pain) while in the womb. Interestingly, one must question if social learning is more natural than thought before.

“The researchers from Durham and Lancaster Universities suggest that fetuses’ ability to show a ‘pain’ facial expression is a developmental process which could potentially give doctors another index of the health of a fetus”

The study was an extension of a previous study that suggested that those babies who expressed facial expressions were the most health. Also, the study found that babies facial expressions grew more complex as pregnancy continued. Which I am glad their expressions get more complex because they sure do melt your heart…

“It is not yet clear whether fetuses can actually feel pain, nor do we know whether facial expressions relate to how they feel. Our research indicates that the expression of fetal facial movements is a developmental process which seems to be related to brain maturation rather than being linked to feelings.”

Citations:

https://www.dur.ac.uk/news/newsitem/?itemno=17958