The First Experience: Searching for the Emergence of Consciousness in Infants and Fetuses

Watch a thought-provoking conference talk exploring the complex question of when consciousness first emerges in human development. Delve into three potential timeframes for the dawn of consciousness - before, during, or after birth - examining scientific evidence from multiple angles. Learn about key developmental markers including cortical responses in 35-week-old fetuses, the dramatic environmental transition at birth, and the crucial postnatal GABA shift affecting neural activity. Understand how researchers use a cluster-based approach combining multiple indicators to investigate infant consciousness, given the challenges of applying adult consciousness markers to developing brains. Explore the bioethical implications of infant consciousness, including historical medical practices and current scientific perspectives on newborn awareness. Discover how modern neuroscience techniques like MEG and resting state fMRI contribute to our understanding of early consciousness, while considering how these earliest experiences may exist without forming lasting memories.