title: Fetal habituation in assisted conception.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neurodevelopment outcomes of children conceived by Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)have been the subject of much recent attention. To date there are no reports of neurodevelopmental performance before birth in this group.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare habituation (a measure of brain function) in fetuses conceived by assisted reproduction techniques (ART) with naturally conceived (NC) fetuses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with singleton pregnancies matched for maternal age, parity and smoking were recruited in 2 groups: ART (n=20) and NC (n=20).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sound stimuli (250 Hz, 110 dB) at 10 second intervals lasting 2 s were administered to the fetus. The end point was habituation (cessation of movement for five consecutive stimuli) or a maximum of 30 stimuli. Responses of the fetus were observed with ultrasound at 28, 32 and 36 weeks' gestation, video-recorded and anonymised for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 28 weeks' gestation significantly more ART fetuses responded to sound of 250 Hz, 110 dB (p=0.02) but this difference did not persist at 32 and 36 weeks'. There was a significant increase in nonresponders as gestation advanced in the ART group. There was no difference in habituation or mean number of trials to habituate at all three gestations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ART fetuses demonstrated no differences in habituation suggesting that there is no neurodevelopment delay. However, a decrease in response to sound as gestation advances might be a harbinger for poor perinatal outcomes and needs exploration.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mulhouse Building, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT12 6BJ, United Kingdom. jollyrobbin@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Jolly
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joy
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McClure
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Hepper
authors.forename: Inez
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cooke
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000196:embryology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring; D005324:Fetal Movement / Q000502:physiology; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology*; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011930:Reaction Time; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014741:Video Recording