Ursache Alexandra, Noble Kimberly G
Sergievsky Center Columbia University New York City NY USA.
Teachers College Columbia University New York City NY USA.
Brain Behav. 2016 Aug 2;6(10):e00531. doi: 10.1002/brb3.531. eCollection 2016 Oct.
A growing body of evidence links socioeconomic status (SES) to children's brain structure. Few studies, however, have specifically investigated relations of SES to white matter structure. Further, although several studies have demonstrated that family SES is related to development of brain areas that support executive functions (EF), less is known about the role that white matter structure plays in the relation of SES to EF. One possibility is that white matter differences may partially explain SES disparities in EF (i.e., a mediating relationship). Alternatively, SES may differentially shape brain-behavior relations such that the relation of white matter structure to EF may differ as a function of SES (i.e., a moderating relationship).
In a diverse sample of 1082 children and adolescents aged 3-21 years, we examined socioeconomic disparities in white matter macrostructure and microstructure. We further investigated relations between family SES, children's white matter volume and integrity in tracts supporting EF, and performance on EF tasks.
Socioeconomic status was associated with fractional anisotropy (FA) and volume in multiple white matter tracts. Additionally, family income moderated the relation between white matter structure and cognitive flexibility. Specifically, across multiple tracts of interest, lower FA or lower volume was associated with reduced cognitive flexibility among children from lower income families. In contrast, children from higher income families showed preserved cognitive flexibility in the face of low white matter FA or volume. SES factors did not mediate or moderate links between white matter and either working memory or inhibitory control.
This work adds to a growing body of literature suggesting that the socioeconomic contexts in which children develop not only shape cognitive functioning and its underlying neurobiology, but may also shape the relations between brain and behavior.
越来越多的证据表明社会经济地位（SES）与儿童的脑结构有关。然而，很少有研究专门调查SES与白质结构的关系。此外，尽管有几项研究表明家庭SES与支持执行功能（EF）的脑区发育有关，但对于白质结构在SES与EF关系中所起的作用知之甚少。一种可能性是白质差异可能部分解释了EF方面的SES差异（即中介关系）。另一种可能性是，SES可能以不同方式塑造脑与行为的关系，使得白质结构与EF的关系可能因SES而异（即调节关系）。
在一个由1082名3至21岁儿童和青少年组成的多样化样本中，我们研究了白质宏观结构和微观结构中的社会经济差异。我们进一步调查了家庭SES、儿童白质体积、支持EF的神经纤维束的完整性以及EF任务表现之间的关系。
社会经济地位与多个白质神经纤维束的各向异性分数（FA）和体积相关。此外，家庭收入调节了白质结构与认知灵活性之间的关系。具体而言，在多个感兴趣的神经纤维束中，较低的FA或体积与低收入家庭儿童的认知灵活性降低有关。相比之下，高收入家庭的儿童在面对低白质FA或体积时，其认知灵活性保持不变。SES因素并未介导或调节白质与工作记忆或抑制控制之间的联系。
这项研究为越来越多的文献增添了内容，表明儿童成长所处的社会经济环境不仅塑造认知功能及其潜在的神经生物学，还可能塑造脑与行为之间的关系。
Zotero 插件
