We know that children living in poverty they have fewer opportunities than middle-class and upper-class children.
We also knew that they often have growth problems and an environment that is less conducive to developing their potential.
But, new scientific research found that the problem is stronger than we thought, and even affects the brains of children. Here we explain why.
(Photo: HILDA RÍOS/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
The more poverty the less you learn
According study conducted at Columbia University, the children who grow up in poor households they show slower activity in key brain regions related to thinking and learning.
To reach these conclusions, the experts analyzed the brain activity of children on the poverty line.
They found that the brain development of babies from low-income families varied according to the amount of financial support that they received
In other words, the more money families received, the more likely children were to develop more brain activity in areas related to learning.
The importance of brain development in childhood
As we commented at the beginning of this text, it has been known for a long time that there is a relationship between poverty and lower school performance.
Similarly, it is known that there is a relationship between low income and poorer health.
But as it says Kimberly Noble, the person in charge of the study, until now there was no proof that the poverty It also affects aspects related to the brain.
The study
In the study, the researchers measured the brain activity levels of 435 one-year-old children.
In order to do so, they reached an agreement with the children’s mothers, all of whom were from poor areas of the United States.
The mothers, who were primarily of African descent or Latina, received a cash boost of $333 (6,900 pesos) or 20 dollars (415 pesos) per month to spend it however they chose.
All will receive that amount of cash for 4 years, the duration of the entire study.
At the moment, one year after starting the investigation, the evidence of electroencephalography detected differences in brain activity in children.
Thus they were able to verify that the children whose mothers received 333 dollars a month had about 20 percent more brain activity than those who only received 20 extra dollars a month.
Social programs would be the solution
Although experts are cautious in their conclusions, they do believe the study could further validate the importance of social programs that focus on financially supporting families.
“A few hundred extra dollars a month has the potential to do these families a lot of good,” the final part of the study stated.
In other words, the researchers believe that money going to families invariably helps children, who are more likely to have better nutrition and relieve parental stress.
And, as part of all this, the social programs would help improve the development of brain childish of poor communities.
