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The articles on this site are the work of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of any Green Party organization
Published by Roger Snyder
Roger's Rumblings

Jan

2

EEGs show brain differences between poor and rich kids

By Robert Sanders, Media Relations | 02 December 2008

BERKELEY — University of California, Berkeley, researchers have shown for the first time that the brains of low-income children function differently from the brains of high-income kids.

In a study recently accepted for publication by the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, scientists at UC Berkeley’s Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute and the School of Public Health report that normal 9- and 10-year-olds differing only in socioeconomic status have detectable differences in the response of their prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that is critical for problem solving and creativity.

Child wired for EEG to test brain function

Electroencephalography, or EEG, uses electrodes on the scalp and held in place by a cap to measure underlying brain activity. (Lee Michael Perry/UC Berkeley)

Brain function was measured by means of an electroencephalograph (EEG) - basically, a cap fitted with electrodes to measure electrical activity in the brain - like that used to assess epilepsy, sleep disorders and brain tumors.

“Kids from lower socioeconomic levels show brain physiology patterns similar to someone who actually had damage in the frontal lobe as an adult,” said Robert Knight, director of the institute and a UC Berkeley professor of psychology. “We found that kids are more likely to have a low response if they have low socioeconomic status, though not everyone who is poor has low frontal lobe response.”

Previous studies have shown a possible link between frontal lobe function and behavioral differences in children from low and high socioeconomic levels, but according to cognitive psychologist Mark Kishiyama, first author of the new paper, “those studies were only indirect measures of brain function and could not disentangle the effects of intelligence, language proficiency and other factors that tend to be associated with low socioeconomic status. Our study is the first with direct measure of brain activity where there is no issue of task complexity.”

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Bush’s Brain

I’M THE DECIDER

White People Own New Orleans

Jan

1

Letter on Gaza

(Borrowed from Progressive Secretary)

Israeli armed forces, aggressively responding to the continued firing of missiles by Hamas, have mounted a devastating attack on Gaza that is killing women and children along with their Hamas targets. Missile firings into Israel continue.

The world has lethargically allowed this festering threat to world peace to go on far too long. Gaza is one large concentration camp, civilians are suffering on both sides, and the Mideast is in turmoil.

Israel and the Palestinians cannot solve the problem unaided. Firm but compassionate intervention by the world’s powers, especially the United States, is essential. Both sides must be forced to stop killing, and a solution fair to both Israel and Palestine must be painstakingly negotiated.

Congress and the new administration must insist on an evenhanded, fair settlement without further delay.

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