"The Influence of Wealth on the Brain's Reward Response"

A study by MIT neuroscientists found that children from lower socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds exhibit less activation in the reward-linked striatum during a money-earning game, indicating reduced sensitivity to rewards compared to those from higher SES backgrounds. This reduced reward sensitivity in lower SES children is hypothesized to be an adaptation to their environment, which typically offers fewer consistent rewards. The research underscores the profound impact of socioeconomic factors on brain development and behavior, highlighting the importance of including diverse SES backgrounds in studies to fully understand brain development variations.