Skip to main content

Citation

Rakesh, Divyangana; Whittle, Sarah; Sheridan, Margaret A.; & McLaughlin, Katie A. (2023). Childhood Socioeconomic Status and the Pace of Structural Neurodevelopment: Accelerated, Delayed, or Simply Different?. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 27(9), 833-851. PMCID: PMC10524122

Abstract

Socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with children's brain and behavioral development. Several theories propose that early experiences of adversity or low SES can alter the pace of neurodevelopment during childhood and adolescence. These theories make contrasting predictions about whether adverse experiences and low SES are associated with accelerated or delayed neurodevelopment. We contextualize these predictions within the context of normative development of cortical and subcortical structure and review existing evidence on SES and structural brain development to adjudicate between competing hypotheses. Although none of these theories are fully consistent with observed SES-related differences in brain development, existing evidence suggests that low SES is associated with brain structure trajectories more consistent with a delayed or simply different developmental pattern than an acceleration in neurodevelopment.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2023.03.011

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2023

Journal Title

Trends in Cognitive Sciences

Author(s)

Rakesh, Divyangana
Whittle, Sarah
Sheridan, Margaret A.
McLaughlin, Katie A.

Article Type

Review

PMCID

PMC10524122

ORCiD

Sheridan - 0000-0002-8909-7501