Poverty and Brain Development During Childhood: An Approach from Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience

Abstract

Reviews the book, Poverty and brain development during childhood: An approach from cognitive psychology and neuroscience by Sebastian J. Lipina and Jorge A. Colombo (see record 2009-08043-000). The present volume reviews the impact of different types of early deprivations on structural and functional brain organization. The risk from multiple influences of systemic poverty is that these children will suffer not only from loss of opportunity but from poor development of their nervous systems. We also describe how poverty affects cognitive and socioemotional development and then analyze the potential contributions of neuroscientific disciplines to the design of early interventions aimed at optimizing the cognitive performance of socioeconomically disadvantaged children. We hope this book will be useful for students and colleagues interested in this field. Most scientists in the developed world are unfamiliar with the situation confronting the poor in underdeveloped countries. This book could help remedy that lack of understanding and lead to more concerted efforts to provide improved conditions for the world's poor. The data presented in this book will be of interest to most practitioners of contemporary clinical neuropsychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)