I have to factual questions about abortion and would love some answers.
Question 1: When does measurable brain-wave activity typically occur in fetuses?
Question 2: Do we have data on what percent of abortions in the US occur after brain-waves arrive? Even an approximation?
Question 2 obviously needs Question 1 to be answered.
I am not interested in the debate on abortion, life, etc. I just want factual answers to my inquiries. Thank you.
Here’s what the Brain Blogger has to say
The eighth week of pregnancy is a special one, because at this point the precursors to all organs have been formed. Philosophers therefore argue that with the beginnings of a brain, the fetus now has the ability to think and react, and that marks the onset of life. Opponents argue that the rudimentary nervous system is not functional at 8 weeks, and the fetus cannot process information or move in response to a stimulus, therefore not making the fetus alive.
A sizable contingent would assert that life begins at 25 weeks. The rationale for this starting point is based on our definition of death. The definition of death is not disputed, and is considered the time when electroencephalography (EEG) activity ceases. EEG measures brain activity and must demonstrate regular wave patterns to be considered valid. Therefore, by this rule the onset of life would be the time when fetal brain activity begins to exhibit regular wave patterns, which occurs fairly consistently around week 25. Previous to that time, the EEG only shows small bursts of activity without sustained firing of neurons.
According to Abort73 (an anti abortion group)
WHEN DO ABORTIONS OCCUR?
- In 2016, 88% of all abortions happened during the first trimester, prior to the 13th week of gestation (CDC).
- In 2016, 10% of all abortions occurred between 13-20 weeks’ gestation; 1.2% occurred ≥21 weeks’ gestation (CDC).
- Percentage of 2016 Reported Abortions by Weeks of Gestation* (CDC):
≤6 wks 7 wks 8 wks 9 wks 10 wks 11 wks 12 wks 13 wks 14-15 wks 16-17 wks 18-20 wks ≥21 wks 34.5% 17.7% 13.4% 9.2% 5.6% 4.6% 3.4% 2.7% 3.6% 2.1% 1.9% 1.2%
| ≤6 wks | 7 wks | 8 wks | 9 wks | 10 wks | 11 wks | 12 wks | 13 wks | 14-15 wks | 16-17 wks | 18-20 wks | ≥21 wks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34.50% | 17.70% | 13.40% | 9.20% | 5.60% | 4.60% | 3.40% | 2.70% | 3.60% | 2.10% | 1.90% | 1.20% |
| 34.50% | 52.20% | 65.60% | 74.80% | 80.40% | 85.00% | 88.40% | 91.10% | 94.70% | 96.80% | 98.70% | 99.90% |
Just added a cumulative % to the bottom of that data
Am I right in saying:
Some brain activity begins as early as 8 weeks, but flow blown “regular brain waves” begins approximately around 25 weeks?
I’m interested in when “brain life” really begins since brain death is often the definition of death.
People who are brain dead still have brain activity, as the brain also regulates autonomic body functions. Most scientists don’t consider the brain activity in a fetus under 25 weeks to be anything more then the same as the activity in a brain dead person.
But worth noting that a “braid dead” person in this sense is not considered to be clinically or legally dead. Stab a brain dead person whose brain is still regulating autonomic functions and you’ll be charged with murder.
In this case “regular” means repetitive at a constant frequency. It doesn’t mean “ordinary” as in “same brainwaves as a newborn.”
If you imagine someone playing music accompanied by a drum machine, this is sort of the point the drum machine is started and the brain gains one of the more obvious prereqs to functionality. That does not mean the brain is yet doing any useful work, such as regulating organ function. IOW, the beat is on, but the music isn’t happening yet.
When does the organ regulation or the music start happening, and how much of that is enough to be the logical opposite of “brain dead”? I have no idea, but it’s at least after the 25th week.
That is what I meant by regular.
According to MDedge,
“Two-thirds of abortions occur by 8 weeks’ gestation”.
65.3% in first 8 weeks, 90.9% in the first trimester.
(in the UK it is 80% in 10 weeks, 90% in the first trimester)
I looked it up because I wasn’t sure I could trust an anti-abortion group to give unbiased data.
Which is true? - I can’t tell.