Shaping the Growing Brain: Neighborhood, Home, and School All Matter

Abstract

The neighborhoods children grow up in can influence how their brains develop—but we do not yet know exactly how this happens. In a sample of 7,500 children aged 9–10 years, we found that the quality of neighborhoods, which can be measured in various ways including access to parks and libraries, was associated with differences in the communication between brain regions involved in planning, goal setting, and self-reflection. Some of the patterns of brain connectivity that were associated with neighborhood quality were also associated with brain function and mental health. We also found that, for children with more positive and supportive home and school environments, neighborhood quality was less important for brain connectivity. Our findings suggest that the environments we grow up in may shape the way our brains develop in complex ways.