Unborn babies develop first neurons at 31 days

Researchers Identify Very First Neurons in the “Thinking” Brain

New Haven, Conn. — Researchers at Yale School of Medicine and the University of Oxford have identified the very first neurons in what develops into the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain that makes humans human.

The findings published in Nature Neuroscience show that the first neurons, or “predecessors,” as the researchers called them, are in place 31 days after fertilization. This is much earlier than previously thought and well before development of arms, legs or eyes.

“These neurons, described here for the first time, precede all other known cell types of the developing cortex,” the researchers said in their paper. “These precocious predecessor neurons might be important in the cascade of developmental events leading to the formation of the human cerebral cortex.”

The cerebral cortex is largely responsible for human cognition, playing an essential role in perception, memory, thought, language, mental ability, intellect and consciousness. It is composed of about 20 billion neurons and accounts for 40 percent of the brain’s weight.

More ammunition for pro-life advocates against pro-abortionists' arguments.

Oops! Did I say "ammunition?" Obviously I'm one of the multitude of crazy fundy anti-choicers who wants to control women's bodies and kill abortion doctors (right, CC?).