Final answer:
Research by 'Building Better Brains' showed that children living in poverty have reduced prefrontal brain functioning, akin to damage in that area, due to stress from poverty. These findings relate to the broader study of brain development in childhood and adolescence, particularly the increase in white matter, which is linked to cognitive and behavioral implications as the brain matures.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Building Better Brains researchers tested children, they found that those living in poverty exhibited reduced prefrontal brain functioning, which is comparable to the functioning seen in individuals with damage to the lateral prefrontal cortex.
This condition suggests that the daily stress associated with poverty can have negative effects on brain development and function, potentially leading to a decrease in IQ scores. The research highlights the complex relationship between socioeconomic status, stress, and cognitive development.
In the context of white matter development in the cerebrum, it is noted that the brain undergoes significant changes during childhood and adolescence.
These changes are observable through MRI images, showing the increasing ratio of white matter to gray matter as the brain matures. Such developments are essential for understanding cognitive functions and behavioral responsibility in adolescents, given that the brain is not fully developed until around 20 years of age.