Babies Distinguish Pain from Touch at 35-37 Weeks, Research Finds

[웃 910]

Babies Distinguish Pain from Touch at 35-37 Weeks, Research Finds

ScienceDaily (Sep. 8, 2011) —

Babies can distinguish painful stimuli as different from general touch from around 35-37 weeks gestation -- just before an infant would normally be born -- according to new research.

In a study published online in the journal Current Biology, scientists show that neural activity in the brain gradually changes from an immature state to a more adult-like state from 35 weeks of development. This change may indicate that neural circuitry allows babies to process pain as a separate sensation from touch.

Dr Rebeccah Slater, UCL Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, said: "Premature babies who are younger than 35 weeks have similar brain responses when they experience touch or pain. After this time there is a gradual change, rather than a sudden shift, when the brain starts to process the two types of stimuli in a distinct manner."

Scientists looked at the brain activity of 46 babies at the University College Hospital Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing. 21 babies in the study were born prematurely, giving scientists the opportunity to measure activity at different stages of human brain development, from babies at just 28 weeks of development through to those born 'full term' at 37 weeks.

Using electroencephalography (EEG), the scientists measured the babies' electrical brain activity when they were undergoing a routine heel lance -- a standard procedure essential to collect blood samples for clinical use.

In the premature babies the EEG recorded a response to the heel lance of non-specific 'neuronal bursts' -- general bursts of electrical activity in the brain. After 35-37 weeks the babies' response changed to localised activity in specific areas of the brain, indicating that they were now perceiving painful stimulation as separate to touch.

Dr Lorenzo Fabrizi, lead author of the paper from UCL Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, said: "We are asking a fundamental question about human development in this study -- when do babies start to distinguish between sensations? In very young brains all stimulations are followed by 'bursts' of activity, but at a critical time in development babies start to respond with activity specific to the type of stimulation."

Dr Fabrizi added: "Of course, babies cannot tell us how they feel, so it is impossible to know what babies actually experience. We cannot say that before this change in brain activity they don't feel pain."

Previous studies have shown that there is a similar shift from neuronal bursts to evoked potentials in the visual system at this time, suggesting that 35-37 weeks is a time when important neural connections are formed between different parts of the brain.

Dr Slater said: "It is important to understand how the human brain develops so that we can provide the best clinical care for hospitalised infants."

The research was funded by the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust.

[keysjangle 145]

Child development is really something else. I'm tempted to call them stupid idiots because the correct answers are so obvious to me, but then I remember I too made the same mistakes.

[Danno 1,228]

Babies Distinguish Pain from Touch at 35-37 Weeks, Research Finds

ScienceDaily (Sep. 8, 2011) —

Babies can distinguish painful stimuli as different from general touch from around 35-37 weeks gestation -- just before an infant would normally be born -- according to new research.

In a study published online in the journal Current Biology, scientists show that neural activity in the brain gradually changes from an immature state to a more adult-like state from 35 weeks of development. This change may indicate that neural circuitry allows babies to process pain as a separate sensation from touch.

Dr Rebeccah Slater, UCL Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, said: "Premature babies who are younger than 35 weeks have similar brain responses when they experience touch or pain. After this time there is a gradual change, rather than a sudden shift, when the brain starts to process the two types of stimuli in a distinct manner."

Scientists looked at the brain activity of 46 babies at the University College Hospital Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing. 21 babies in the study were born prematurely, giving scientists the opportunity to measure activity at different stages of human brain development, from babies at just 28 weeks of development through to those born 'full term' at 37 weeks.

Using electroencephalography (EEG), the scientists measured the babies' electrical brain activity when they were undergoing a routine heel lance -- a standard procedure essential to collect blood samples for clinical use.

In the premature babies the EEG recorded a response to the heel lance of non-specific 'neuronal bursts' -- general bursts of electrical activity in the brain. After 35-37 weeks the babies' response changed to localised activity in specific areas of the brain, indicating that they were now perceiving painful stimulation as separate to touch.

Dr Lorenzo Fabrizi, lead author of the paper from UCL Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, said: "We are asking a fundamental question about human development in this study -- when do babies start to distinguish between sensations? In very young brains all stimulations are followed by 'bursts' of activity, but at a critical time in development babies start to respond with activity specific to the type of stimulation."

Dr Fabrizi added: "Of course, babies cannot tell us how they feel, so it is impossible to know what babies actually experience. We cannot say that before this change in brain activity they don't feel pain."

Previous studies have shown that there is a similar shift from neuronal bursts to evoked potentials in the visual system at this time, suggesting that 35-37 weeks is a time when important neural connections are formed between different parts of the brain.

Dr Slater said: "It is important to understand how the human brain develops so that we can provide the best clinical care for hospitalised infants."

The research was funded by the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust.

Actually this is one method of seeking rights for not yet delivered babies....ones right to "choose" should not enable one to cause pain to others.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

35-37 weeks is late pregnancy Danno...

[_Simpson_ 250]

35-37 weeks is late pregnancy Danno...

So are willing to draw a line in the sand? Would causing pain to a baby be enough for you to say "hey enough is enough a woman's right to choose doesn't trump the well being of the baby"?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Late term pregnancy is already highly controversial. It should only be available in limited circumstances

[_Simpson_ 250]

Late term pregnancy is already highly controversial. It should only be available in limited circumstances

So you would be willing to tell a woman that she can have a late stage abortion only under certain circumstances?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

So you would be willing to tell a woman that she can have a late stage abortion only under certain circumstances?

There are laws that already do this.

[_Simpson_ 250]

There are laws that already do this.

I'm directing this towards Duncan, personal thoughts? IYO should there be laws on the book that limit woman in these situations?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Yes there should be. Yes there are.

[_Simpson_ 250]

Yes there should be. Yes there are.

Good. It shouldn't be just about a woman's right to choose.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

But mostly, it should be.

[웃 910]

Good. It shouldn't be just about a woman's right to choose.

We should ask the unborn baby what he thinks first.

[_Simpson_ 250]

We should ask the unborn baby what he thinks first.

That's your logic, the baby cant talk so its OK to terminate it...sigh. Clearly you must know that there is moral issues at hand here.

[_Simpson_ 250]

But mostly, it should be.

Pro-choice people tend to get tunnel vision when it comes to the woman's rights and abortion. What at this point of the pregnancy make you willing to limit a woman's rights? Is it just the moral issue of causing the baby pain?