Final answer:
Premature human babies gain weight faster when stimulated with gentle, rhythmic sounds, which contribute to their physical development and comfort.
Step-by-step explanation:
It has been shown through studies that premature human babies gain weight faster if they are stimulated with gentle, rhythmic sounds. These sounds can be soothing and may mimic the constant beats and rhythms that the baby was accustomed to hearing in the womb. By providing such auditory stimulation, it encourages a calming effect and can contribute to better sleeping and eating cycles, which are critical for a premature baby's weight gain and overall physical development. Newborns, with their well-developed sense of touch, usually respond positively to soft stroking and can also find comfort in sucking behaviors triggered by hearing familiar sounds, such as their mother's voice.
While premature infants may retain some fetal characteristics like the lanugo (fine hair) or need the protective substance vernix caseosa, they still show a preference for human faces and voices, highlighting the importance of human interaction and gentle sensory stimulation in their growth and ability to thrive outside the womb. The presence of rhythmic sounds as a stimulatory method can also enhance a young infant's language and communication skills development, setting the stage for better social and cognitive outcomes.