TY - JOUR T1 - Socioeconomic status and the brain: mechanistic insights from human and animal research. JF - Nat Rev Neurosci Y1 - 2010 A1 - Hackman, Daniel A A1 - Farah, Martha J A1 - Meaney, Michael J KW - Animals KW - Brain KW - Cognition KW - Humans KW - Mental Disorders KW - Social Class AB -

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.

VL - 11 IS - 9 ER -