Children living in areas with low socioeconomic opportunities have more tired and stressed brains, a new study finds
A study of more than 2,300 9- to 10-year-olds found that socioeconomic factors explained most differences in the preteens' brain development. n.pr/4xoA70O
A new Science study suggests variables linked to socioeconomic status—increased stress and reduced sleep—have strong relationships to brain structure and function in children. Brain differences observed are unrelated to genetic ancestry and may not be permanent. https://scim.ag/4opL5PF
In sum, SES dominates childhood brain organization. Zip code matters most.
These findings have been at the forefront of my mind daily, with Darwin’s quote living rent free in my head: “if the misery of the poor not be caused by the laws of nature, but by our institutions, great be our sin.”
www.scientificamerican.com
A study of more than 2,300 9- to 10-year-olds found that socioeconomic factors explained most differences in the preteens' brain development.
Children living in areas with low socioeconomic opportunities have more tired and stressed brains, a new study finds
Or perhaps a child’s SES better predicts their brain scans than their IQ does.
NPR
Science Magazine
Scientific American
This is one of the most socially important scientific findings I've ever been a part of.
SES has a larger cross-sectional effect on brain function than any other variable.
Prediction of IQ from brain data is actually mostly just predicting SES.
Mind blowing.
Brain scans can predict a child's socioeconomic status better than they can predict the child’s IQ. #neuroskyence
By @natmesanash.bsky.social
www.thetransmitter.org/brain-imagin...
How can we acquire new knowledge and skills on a daily basis while remaining the same person?
I'm excited to share our new preprint led by @hyejinjadelee.bsky.social & Ally Dworetsky tackling this question, just in time for #OHBM2026:
doi.org/10.64898/202...
🧵👇
#neuroskyence #PsychSciSky
A new study found that the number one environmental factor influencing brain structure and function is the socioeconomic status of a child's family. www.statnews.com/2026/06/11/s...
Scott Marek
A child’s socioeconomic status, screen time and amount of sleep all show stronger associations with measures of brain structure and function, according to an imaging study of nearly 12,000…
www.thetransmitter.org
Brain regions exhibit dynamic yet highly coordinated activity patterns that form large-scale functional networks measurable through resting-state correlations. While their association with fluctuating...
Brain scans can predict a child's socioeconomic status better than they can predict the child’s IQ. #neuroskyence
By @natmesanash.bsky.social
www.thetransmitter.org/brain-imagin...
A new study found that the number one environmental factor influencing brain structure and function is the socioeconomic status of a child's family.
A child’s socioeconomic status, screen time and amount of sleep all show stronger associations with measures of brain structure and function, according to an imaging study of nearly 12,000…
What matters most for childhood brain organization?
We analyzed 649 variables.
The answer: Socioeconomics (SES); with brain patterns pointing at sleep & stress as drivers.
Even brain-IQ associations were better explained by SES.
In Science today: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Is zip code everything? A new study involving U.S. children found it influences brain function and structure—specifically, kids in lower socioeconomic opportunity areas had sleep deprived and stressed brains.
New on @sciam.bsky.social
www.scientificamerican.com/article/chil...
Caterina Gratton
Scott Marek
The Transmitter
The Transmitter
Ravi Menon
STAT
Children living in areas with low socioeconomic opportunities have more tired and stressed brains, a new study finds
