Brain guides body much sooner than previously believed

(Tufts University) The brain plays an active role much earlier than previously thought. Long before movement or other behaviors occur, the nascent brain of an embryonic frog instructs normal muscle and nerve patterning and protects the embryo from agents that cause developmental defects. In addition to identifying these essential functions for the first time, Tufts researchers successfully rescued defects caused by lack of a brain by using widely available, human-approved drugs.