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The Impact of Social Disparity on Prefrontal Function in Childhood

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  • Margaret A Sheridan
  • Khaled Sarsour
  • Douglas Jutte
  • Mark D'Esposito
  • W Thomas Boyce

Abstract

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) develops from birth through late adolescence. This extended developmental trajectory provides many opportunities for experience to shape the structure and function of the PFC. To date, a few studies have reported links between parental socioeconomic status (SES) and prefrontal function in childhood, raising the possibility that aspects of environment associated with SES impact prefrontal function. Considering that behavioral measures of prefrontal function are associated with learning across multiple domains, this is an important area of investigation. In this study, we used fMRI to replicate previous findings, demonstrating an association between parental SES and PFC function during childhood. In addition, we present two hypothetical mechanisms by which SES could come to affect PFC function of this association: language environment and stress reactivity. We measured language use in the home environment and change in salivary cortisol before and after fMRI scanning. Complexity of family language, but not the child's own language use, was associated with both parental SES and PFC activation. Change in salivary cortisol was also associated with both SES and PFC activation. These observed associations emphasize the importance of both enrichment and adversity-reduction interventions in creating good developmental environments for all children.

Suggested Citation

  • Margaret A Sheridan & Khaled Sarsour & Douglas Jutte & Mark D'Esposito & W Thomas Boyce, 2012. "The Impact of Social Disparity on Prefrontal Function in Childhood," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(4), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0035744
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035744
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. James J. Heckman, 2007. "The Economics, Technology and Neuroscience of Human Capability Formation," NBER Working Papers 13195, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Damien A Fair & Alexander L Cohen & Jonathan D Power & Nico U F Dosenbach & Jessica A Church & Francis M Miezin & Bradley L Schlaggar & Steven E Petersen, 2009. "Functional Brain Networks Develop from a “Local to Distributed” Organization," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(5), pages 1-14, May.
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    1. Sanchez, Alan & Favara, Marta & Sheridan, Margaret & Behrman, Jere R., 2022. "How Early Nutrition and Foundational Cognitive Skills Interconnect? Evidence from Two Developing Countries," IZA Discussion Papers 15818, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Bachler Egon & Nickel Marius & Bachler Herbert, 2018. "The Relationship between Peer Victimization, Perceived Parental Support, Family Characteristics and Internalizing Symptoms. A Cross-Sectional Study," The Open Family Studies Journal, Bentham Open, vol. 10(1), pages 9-20, April.
    3. Jedwab, Remi & Khan, Amjad M. & Russ, Jason & Zaveri, Esha D., 2021. "Epidemics, pandemics, and social conflict: Lessons from the past and possible scenarios for COVID-19," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    4. Sánchez, Alan & Favara, Marta & Sheridan, Margaret & Behrman, Jere, 2024. "Does early nutrition predict cognitive skills during later childhood? Evidence from two developing countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    5. Nicolas Pazos & Marta Favara & Alan Sánchez & Douglas Scott & Jere Behrman, 2022. "Long-term effects of rainfall shocks on foundational cognitive skills: Evidence from Peru," PIER Working Paper Archive 23-001, Penn Institute for Economic Research, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania.
    6. Danielle Shaked & Zachary B Millman & Danielle L Beatty Moody & William F Rosenberger & Hui Shao & Leslie I Katzel & Christos Davatzikos & Rao P Gullapalli & Stephen L Seliger & Guray Erus & Michele K, 2019. "Sociodemographic disparities in corticolimbic structures," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(5), pages 1-21, May.
    7. Evelyn Law & Georgios Sideridis & Ghadah Alkhadim & Jenna Snyder & Margaret Sheridan, 2022. "Classifying Young Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Based on Child, Parent, and Family Characteristics: A Cross-Validation Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-13, July.
    8. Pazos, Nicolás & Favara, Marta & Sánchez, Alan & Scott, Douglas & Behrman, Jere, 2024. "Long-term effects of early life rainfall shocks on foundational cognitive skills: Evidence from Peru," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    9. Monica E. Ellwood-Lowe & Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli & Silvia A. Bunge, 2021. "Brain network coupling associated with cognitive performance varies as a function of a child’s environment in the ABCD study," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
    10. Remi Jedwab & Amjad M. Khan & Richard Damania & Jason Russ & Esha D. Zaveri, 2020. "Pandemics, Poverty, and Social Cohesion: Lessons from the Past and Possible Solutions for COVID-19," Working Papers 2020-13, The George Washington University, Institute for International Economic Policy.
    11. Wehby, George L. & McCarthy, Ann Marie, 2013. "Economic gradients in early child neurodevelopment: A multi-country study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 86-95.

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