Neuroscientist and pediatrician Kimberly Noble is leading the Baby's First Years study: the first-ever randomized study of how family income changes children's cognitive, emotional and brain development. She and a team of economists and policy experts are working together to find out: Can we help kids in poverty simply by giving families more money? "The brain is not destiny," Noble says. "And if a child's brain can be changed, then anything is possible."

How does income affect childhood brain development?

Family income is closely tied to the development of children’s brains, especially in regions linked to language and self-control. Among the poorest families, even small increases in income can lead to much larger changes in brain structure. Children in poverty often start kindergarten with cognitive scores 60 percent lower than their more affluent peers. But because the brain is shaped by experience, early interventions and increased resources can unlock potential and support lifelong learning.

Changing Family Income Can Reshape A Child’s Brain And Future

parenting

money

brain

neuroscience

poverty

economics

kids

equality

social change

TED Salon Talk (partner)

Kimberly Noble: How does income affect childhood brain development?