Certificate In Psychology (CPSY) Practice Exam

When fetuses hear sounds from outside their mothers' bodies, they may:

1. show a change in heart rate.

2. move their hands to their ears.

3. increase sucking.

4. increase activity.

The correct answer is: show a change in heart rate.

The ability of fetuses to respond to external sounds is a fascinating area of study in prenatal development. When fetuses hear sounds from outside their mothers' bodies, they exhibit various physiological responses. A notable response is a change in heart rate, which serves as an indicator of how the fetus is interacting with auditory stimuli. This change in heart rate is often a reflection of the fetus's level of arousal or engagement with the sound, signaling that it is indeed processing external auditory information. While fetuses might also engage in other movements or changes in activity levels, the heart rate change is a well-documented and measurable response that indicates auditory perception. This physiological reaction highlights the developing senses of the fetus and their ability to respond to the external environment even before birth. The other responses, such as moving hands to their ears, increasing sucking, or increasing overall activity, may occur but are not as consistently observed or measured as the change in heart rate. Thus, the physiological response represented by a change in heart rate is the most accurate reflection of a fetus's reaction to sounds.