Electroencephalography of the Fetus

Appearance of fetal pain could be associated with maturation of the mesodiencephalic structures

“…Results obtained during cesarean section show that spontaneous, intermittent bursts of electrical activity are present in the brain stem from the 10th week of gestation onward, while as a response to the stretching reflex, it appears from the 12th gestation week onward 72. Another study suggested that bursts of fast and slow wave activity in the brain stem appear in the 7th gestation week 73. Excitation of brain stem neurons as a response to the stretching reflex show the development of integrative and regulative activities of the mesodiencephalon lower spinal reflexes.…”

A dualist analysis of abortion: personhood and the concept of self qua experiential subject

“…The very first electrical activity that is associated with the brain occurs in the brainstem of the fetus. Though there has been at least one report of brain activity occurring as early as seven weeks into pregnancy, 22 researchers have determined that the first electroencephalogram (EEG) activity usually occurs in the brainstem at around 10 weeks of gestational age. 23 Cortical activity begins much later.…”

“…xxvi Because there is at least one study that reports such activity prior to 7 weeks of gestational age, 22 it should be noted that only 13.8% of abortions are performed prior to the 7th week of pregnancy. In any event, occurrence of brainstem activity prior to 10 weeks is the exception and not the rule.…”

Chapter I: Physical Growth

“…Abdominal and vaginal methods of demonstrating the electroencephalogram of the human fetus in utero were developed (30,37). High voltage slow-wave activity with superimposed small fast waves was found in fetuses less than three months of age.…”