A new discovery: Socioeconomic wonder – how it affects your sensitivity to rewards

The way and circumstances we were raised into affect us a lot, and these effects can shape our whole lives.

For example, people from poor and dysfunctional backgrounds tend to process rewards differently from people who were raised in perfect conditions.

A new experiment shows how it works.

How it was detected

The experiment from MIT neuroscientists reveals that the brain's responsiveness to rewarding experiences is shaped by various socioeconomic conditions, impacting people's motivation and attention.

A study involving 12 to 14-year-olds with diverse socioeconomic statuses discovered that individuals from lower SES backgrounds displayed diminished sensitivity to rewards.

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, the scientists tracked brain activity during a guessing game where participants earned money for correct guesses.

Individuals from higher SES backgrounds exhibited greater activation in the striatum, a region linked to rewards, in comparison to those from lower SES backgrounds.

Behavioral responses to correct guesses were pretty consistent with the patterns observed in brain imaging.

The results show the impact of socioeconomic conditions on how the brain responds to rewarding experiences and emphasize the significance of understanding these dynamics for motivation and attention.

Why it's important to know

The test results imply that lower socioeconomic conditions lead the brain to adjust by diminishing its responsiveness to rewards, which are less consistent in such environments.

The experiment underscores the influence of the environment on how the brain reacts to opportunities for rewards.

Previously, we talked about how important physical activity is for kids.

• Related news:
• research
• social status
• education
• neighbors
• socioeconomic conditions
• 25 January 2024

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