Neurons enable sensation, motion, and thought by communicating to one another through a series of coupled ionic (electrical) and chemical reactions. Neural cells can be distinguished by their specialized ability to sense and respond to electrical cues. We study the development of this electrogenic signaling capacity as cells transition from pluripotent stem cells to mature neuron subtypes. Using systematic meta analysis of published data combined with novel computer code, we have established a set of homologous genes that are involved in electrical signaling and are sequentially activated during neural differentiation. We also identified sets of transcription factors that interact to help specify neurotransmitter expression, demonstrating that these factors have mutually inhibiting interactions that can act to reinforce cell fate choice.