Foetal responses to auditory and speech stimuli

It is reported in the Indian legendary text of the Mahäbhârata (Busnel 1991) that while he was in his mother’s womb Abhimangu listened to a story told by his father Ananda about a long and hard fight he had won. The legend says Abhimangu’s mother fell asleep during this story, thus preventing him from hearing the end. Twenty years later, Abhimangu was involved in a fight. He was on the verge of winning with the help of the memory of his father’s tricks – up to a moment similar to the one where – during the telling – his mother had fallen asleep. Having missed the remainder of his father’s fight, he was killed by an unexpected blow.