it is currently unclear from what moment the embryo or fetus can feel pain. this is also used in the debate about abortion. many researchers think that a fetus is unlikely to feel pain until after the seventh month of pregnancy. others disagree. at about twenty-six weeks of pregnancy, certain connections are made in the thalamus of the growing fetus. developmental neurobiologists suspect that these connections may be critical to perception of pain by the fetus. however, legislation has been proposed by pro-life advocates requiring abortion providers to tell a woman that the embryo or fetus may feel pain during an abortion procedure.