Everything a child experiences leaves an imprint on the brain, influencing development and function for the rest of their lives.
A child’s family financial situation and surroundings, such as the neighbourhood they grow up in, may have a stronger impact on brain development than previously thought, new research suggests.
A study by researchers at Washington University in the United States found that socioeconomic factors accounted for about 16% of the variability in measures of children’s brain function, having a greater impact than intelligence quotient (IQ), parenting style and health history.
“The brain of a child from a low socioeconomic background looks like that of a child from a high socioeconomic environment that has been sleep-deprived and stressed,” said Nico Dosenbach, senior author of the study.
He added that it is not a “less-smart brain,” and if there were ways to improve sleep and reduce stress for children from households with more limited socioeconomic opportunities, differences linked to these circumstances could be reduced.
