Fetal music therapy and AI-driven Doppler ultrasound: a neuromodulation perspective.
Authors
Affiliations (4)
Affiliations (4)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fetomaternal Division, Women Health Center, Eka Hospital BSD City, Serpong, Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fetomaternal Division, 359613 Medical Faculty of Sebelas Maret University, Dr. Moewardi Hospital , Solo, Indonesia.
- Department of Neonatology and Rare Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
Abstract
Fetal responses to auditory stimuli remain a relatively understudied area in prenatal care. This study investigates the effects of personalized fetal music therapy by employing Doppler ultrasound to assess fetal cardiac and hemodynamic responses to specific musical stimuli. By integrating AI-based pattern recognition, we aim to establish a novel framework for prenatal acoustic stimulation that may support neurological development and enhance maternal-fetal bonding. Thirty pregnant participants between 32 and 37 weeks of gestation underwent Doppler ultrasound recordings while exposed to two distinct musical pieces: <i>Brahms</i>' <i>Lullaby</i> (representing slow, soothing stimuli) and <i>Mozart</i>'<i>s Symphony No. 40</i> (representing fast, dynamic stimuli). Each session included baseline fetal heart rate (FHR) and Doppler waveform measurements - peak systolic velocity (PS), end-diastolic velocity (ED), and time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMax) - recorded before, during, and after music exposure. AI-driven analysis was used to evaluate heart rate variability and blood flow dynamics, and statistical methods (paired t-tests and ANOVA) were applied to identify significant variations in fetal responses. Fetal heart rate significantly decreased during <i>Brahms</i>' <i>Lullaby</i>, indicating a calming effect, and increased during <i>Mozart</i>'<i>s Symphony</i>, suggesting arousal. Corresponding changes in Doppler waveform metrics reflected stimulus-dependent modulation of fetal cardiovascular function. AI-assisted Doppler ultrasound analysis confirms that fetal music therapy modulates cardiac responses based on musical characteristics. These findings establish a foundation for personalized prenatal music interventions with potential benefits for <i>in utero</i> neurological priming and stress reduction.