Controversy over the Notion of "Prenatal Memory (Tainai Kioku)"

- From Emotional Criticisms to Productive Proposals -

Abstract

In Japan, the term "prenatal memory" ("tainai kioku" in Japanese), originally referring to memories acquired in mothers' wombs, has come to cover past-life memories, life-between life memories, fetal memories, and birth memories. The publications, lectures, and public appearances of Dr. IKEGAWA Akira not only popularized but raised controversy over the validity of the concept. This article critically examines "expert" criticisms of prenatal memory, and proposes possible solutions to some inherent issues. First, overemphasis on the practical applicability of "prenatal memory" engenders oversimplified remarks unsupported by the data, like "every child chooses his/her mother." Second, people claiming to have paranormal abilities to talk with fetuses (or mentally disabled patients) occasionally work with proponents of prenatal memory. The existence of the abilities, like prenatal memory, presupposes the non-reductionist nature of consciousness. However, their practices and abilities require more scrupulous clinical investigation.