Socioeconomic status and the brain: mechanistic insights from human and animal research.
Human brain development occurs within a socioeconomic context and childhood socioeconomic status (SES) influences neural development--particularly of the systems that subserve language and executive function. Research in humans and in animal models has implicated prenatal factors, parent-child interactions and cognitive stimulation in the home environment in the effects of SES on neural development. These findings provide a unique opportunity for understanding how environmental factors can lead to individual differences in brain development, and for improving the programmes and policies that are designed to alleviate SES-related disparities in mental health and academic achievement.
Hackman
Daniel A
DA
Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience and Society, Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, 3720 Walnut Street, Room B51, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6241, USA.
Farah
Martha J
MJ
Meaney
Michael J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D012923:Social Class