A Novel Effort to See How Poverty Affects Young Brains An emerging branch of neuroscience asks a question long on the minds of researchers. Recent stimulus payments make the study more relevant. By Alla Katsnelson April 7, 2021Updated 6:17 p.m. ET New monthly payments in the pandemic relief package have the potential to lift millions of American children out of poverty. Some scientists believe the payments could change children’s lives even more fundamentally — via their brains. Image Does cash aid to poor parents help their children’s long-term brain development?Credit...Karsten Moran for The New York Times It’s well established that growing up in poverty correlates with disparities in educational achievement, health and employment. But an emerging branch of neuroscience asks how poverty affects the developing brain.