Free cash is linked to babies’ brain development, study finds

Researchers looked at 1,000 babies whose parents live below the poverty line in four different metropolitan areas in the US. They gave some parents $333 per month — and other parents $20/month — during their child’s first year of life with no rules on how to spend it. After one year, researchers found higher brain activity in the kids whose parents got more money.

Researchers looked at 1,000 babies whose parents live below the poverty line in four different metropolitan areas in the US. They gave some parents $333 per month — and other parents $20/month — during their child’s first year of life with no rules on how to spend it. After one year, researchers found higher brain activity in the kids whose parents got more money. Photo by Shutterstock.

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From this Episode:

Credits

Host:

Madeleine Brand

Producers:

Sarah Sweeney, Angie Perrin, Michell Eloy, Amy Ta, Brian Hardzinski, Bennett Purser, Robin Estrin