Prenatal and Perinatal Memories in Preverbal Children: Clinical Observations Using Videotape Examination

This research study examined the hypothesis that preverbal children are
capable of implicitly and explicitly registering their prenatal and perinatal experiences and of subsequently
communicating these experiences through their behavior. It asked the question, Can trained observers
accurately identify preverbal children’s prenatal and perinatal experiences based on the children’s behavior in a
therapeutic setting? The study utilized mixed-method analysis, and accuracy was assessed according to the
degree of correspondence between the observers’ interpretations of behaviors and the pregnancy and birth
history as described by the child’s parents and/or his or her therapists). The results revealed a high degree of
correspondence (72%) between observers’ interpretations and the children’s prenatal or perinatal histories,
which suggests that the selected children’s behaviors have a direct relationship to particular prenatal or
perinatal experiences. From these results, we might make the inferential leap that preverbal children appear to
be capable of accessing and reenacting memories from their prenatal or perinatal lives. If true, this has
implications for our understanding of the importance of prenatal and perinatal life to the subsequent physical,
emotional, and mental development and well-being of the child. KEY WORDS: prenatal memory, preverbal
children, consciousness, prenatal and perinatal psychology. INTRODUCTION Throughout the past two hundred
years, most medical and psychological professionals believed that prenates and newborns are not conscious
beings because their brains are not fully developed, and that preverbal children are not capable of memory.