"The cortex is required for both the discriminative and emotional aspects of the processing of noxious stimuli and both anatomical and functional studies show that cortical neurons begin to receive input about sensory events in the body and the external environment from 24 weeks. Long axonal tracts now course through the brain to the cortex and evoked responses in the primary sensory cortex indicate the presence of a spinothalamic connection and the ability of somatosensory cortical neurons to generate specific activity in response to tissue damaging stimulation. The primary sensory cortex is an important area in pain processing but it is only one of many areas that are active during pain experience. Other important areas include the secondary somatosensory, the anterior cingulate and the insular cortices. Although we may speculate that these regions will also be functionally active from 24 weeks, similar to primary sensory cortex, there is no evidence for this at the moment. It has been suggested that subcortical regions, including the brainstem, and transient brain structures, including the subplate, organise responses to noxious information at each stage of development and provide for a pain experience complete within itself at each stage. There is, however, no evidence or rationale for subcortical and transient brain regions supporting mature function. Although developing brain circuits often display spontaneous neuronal activity this activity is a fundamental developmental process and not evidence of mature function."