Project description
Understanding how foetuses react to social stimuli
Foetal neural responses to social stimuli and what a foetus can perceive have not been studied until now. The ERC-funded FETAL-MIND project at the University of Tübingen's fMEG Centre will study foetal neural responses to social stimuli. It aims to challenge the notion of foetuses as isolated by examining their reactions to voices and face-like patterns projected into the womb. Using foetal magnetoencephalography (MEG) during the third trimester, the project will employ both traditional superconducting MEG and portable optically pumped magnetometers. This research may lead to early biomarkers for conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, leveraging specialised resources to maximise success.
Objective
What can a fetus perceive? Leveraging rare, specialized resources at the University of Tuebingen's fMEG Center, FETAL-MIND will conduct the first-ever study of fetal neural responses to social stimuli using recent innovations toward in utero stimulus delivery and cutting edge techniques for fetal brain signal detection. This groundbreaking project will challenge the widespread view of fetuses as isolated and unaware by examining fetal neural responses to non-maternal vocal stimuli and face-like patterns projected into the womb. Specifically, FETAL-MIND will use fetal magnetoencephalography (MEG) in the third trimester (32-40 weeks gestation), employing both traditional superconducting MEG (sMEG) and newer optically pumped magnetometers (oMEG) to detect fetal neural responses to social stimuli (face-like patterns and voices). Compared with sMEG, oMEG is portable, less expensive, and can be applied flexibly across different populations. Thus, by validating oMEG for fetal recordings, FETAL-MIND offers an enormous technical contribution to both basic research and clinical fields. Furthermore, the project's findings may lay the groundwork for developing early biomarkers of atypical neurodevelopment, particularly for conditions involving social deficits such as autism spectrum disorder. The project is structured into five work packages (WPs). WP1 pilots the stimuli and estimates effect sizes. WP2 conducts larger-scale experiments based on results from WP1 and focuses on neural effects, while WP3 focuses on arousal effects (fetal heart rate). WP4 compares sMEG and oMEG recordings in the same fetal subjects and, finally, WP5 follows up with postnatal measurements. This staged approach mitigates risks by allowing for methodological refinement based on intermediate results from WP1. Moreover, FETAL-MIND leverages expertise and resources at the Tuebingen fMEG Center, including specialized equipment and established protocols for fetal MEG recordings to maximize success.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine embryology
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics superconductivity
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-STG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
72074 Tuebingen
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.