The review of literature examines the
relationship between socioeconomic status and neurological development
according to current studies. This article specifically investigates how the
socioeconomic status of childhood influences the development of the brain and
cognitive functioning even into adulthood. The measurements of socioeconomic
status like education, household income, and neighborhood demographics are each
found to independently influence neural development, thus affecting cognitive
functioning. This article investigates how factors of socioeconomic status
affect specific brain structures and cognitive functions. Low socioeconomic
status was found to negatively impact neural development and hinder cognitive
abilities and growth. High parental education specifically is linked to greater
cognitive functioning and skills as it contributes to greater cognitive
enrichment in the home and healthier habits like nutrition. The volume of brain
structures like the amygdala, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, overall surface
area, and cortical thickness of the brain are all impacted by socioeconomic
measures. Socioeconomic stressors are associated with poor behavioral outcomes,
attention deficits, poor language, and weakened executive functioning.
Neighborhood quality contributes greatly to socioeconomic stressors which have
an impact on brain reactivity, behavioral intensity, and selective attention.
Racial and ethnic minorities are often disadvantaged in neighborhood quality
and overall socioeconomic status. Various studies expound upon the significant
relationship between the socioeconomic status and neurological development of
racial and ethnic minorities. Journal articles, empirical studies, etc. propose
home, school, and policy-based interventions to bridge the developmental gaps
between low and high-socioeconomic standing children and adolescents. Such
studies can be applied to educational modifications and other forms of
cognitive enrichment.
