The article "Of Human Bonding: Newborns Prefer Their Mothers' Voices" by Anthony J. DeCasper and William P. Fifer explores the auditory preferences of newborns for their mothers' voices. The study found that newborns can discriminate between their mother's voice and that of another female and will work to produce their mother's voice more often than the non-maternal voice. This preference suggests that the period shortly after birth may be crucial for initiating infant bonding with the mother. The researchers used a nonnutritive nipple to record sucking patterns in response to different vocal stimuli, finding that infants shifted their median interburst intervals (IBIs) to produce their mother's voice more frequently. This preference was maintained even after reversing the response requirements, indicating that the infants had learned to produce their mother's voice. The study also confirmed that newborns in group nurseries, with limited maternal contact, could still discriminate and prefer their mothers' voices, suggesting that early auditory experience plays a significant role in this bonding process.The article "Of Human Bonding: Newborns Prefer Their Mothers' Voices" by Anthony J. DeCasper and William P. Fifer explores the auditory preferences of newborns for their mothers' voices. The study found that newborns can discriminate between their mother's voice and that of another female and will work to produce their mother's voice more often than the non-maternal voice. This preference suggests that the period shortly after birth may be crucial for initiating infant bonding with the mother. The researchers used a nonnutritive nipple to record sucking patterns in response to different vocal stimuli, finding that infants shifted their median interburst intervals (IBIs) to produce their mother's voice more frequently. This preference was maintained even after reversing the response requirements, indicating that the infants had learned to produce their mother's voice. The study also confirmed that newborns in group nurseries, with limited maternal contact, could still discriminate and prefer their mothers' voices, suggesting that early auditory experience plays a significant role in this bonding process.