How Does Poverty Affect Children's Brain Development?

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Cognition is inexorably linked to brain structure and function, thus cognitive development is dependent on brain development. This section focuses on the physical mechanisms in which environmental stimuli due to poverty affects the structure and function of children’s brain development. Brain development is an incredibly complex process that starts just five weeks after conception and arguably doesn’t end until one’s middle to late twenties. Each structure of the brain, and the cognitive function it enables, has a unique timeline to maturity. Brain development is heavily influenced by the environment. The physical structure, and thus function, of each section of the brain can be altered by environmental stimuli. There are four areas …show more content…

Families of higher socioeconomic statuses are able to provide extensive cognitive stimulation in the form of language stimulation, teaching colors and numbers, providing books and learning materials, and exposing the child to learning experiences outside the home (Conger, Conger, & Martin, 2010). Families of low socioeconomic status may not have the financial resources to provide learning materials, or have the time to provide cognitive stimulation to their child. Research shows that children growing up in poverty have less access to learning materials, educational opportunities, and are exposed to lesser words and conversations (Johnson, Noble, & Riis, 2016). These deficits in environmental stimuli relating to language and higher-order thinking could account for the smaller volumes, surface areas, and resulting functional capacities of the left occipitotmeporal, perisylvian, and prefrontal cortex regions in children of low socioeconomic …show more content…

A poverty-induced unhealthy diet can directly lead to suboptimal cognitive functioning in children. For example, children who grow in poverty are at a higher risk of having an iron deficiency, which can eventually lead to higher levels of lead absorption. It has been documented that lead exposure is related to worse performance in cognitive tasks, and it alters the structure and function of the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus (Johnson, Noble, & Riis,

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