The role of sensory stimulation in perinatal development: Insights from comparative research for care of the high-risk infant

Studies of avian and mammalian species have highlighted the importance of n ormal patterns of perinatal sensory experience to early perceptual and beha vioral capabilities, including recognition and preference for maternal olfa ctory, auditory, and visual information, the capability for prenatal and po stnatal auditory learning, and sensitivity to temporal and spatial features of sensory stimulation. This animal-based research suggests that the effec ts that alterations of perinatal sensory stimulation may have on early perc eptual and behavioral development likely depend on a number of related fact ors, including (a) the timing of the stimulation relative to the developmen tal stage of the organism, (b) the amount of stimulation provided or denied the young organism, and (c) the type of sensory stimulation presented. Thi s article reviews research drawn from comparative developmental psychology and psychobiology on perinatal perceptual development and explores how it c an inform research and practice concerned with the developmentally appropri ate care of the high-risk infant.