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Neuroscience and poverty:

How scientist are using neuroscience to understand poverty
Youtube video and Database article
Carlos E. Rucker
University of Texas El Paso
Running head: NEUROSCIENCE AND POVERTY 1

Abstract

In modern times science has progressed at its fastest pace in the past twenty years and

every year more and more technology and science knowledge is uncovered that helps

us understand life. Neuroscience is the study of the brain and the functions which it

performs and ho these affect us and why they happen. Studies have been made which

try to use neuroscience to further understand how poverty. The research is made to try

to understand why it is that these people live in the conditions they do and how their

minds contribute to that being. A research report titled “Childhood poverty: Specific

associations with neurocognitive development” demonstrates and talks about results of

various test done with a controlled group of people to test their brain. The youtube video

brings out a hardly believable yet very open topic about dualism and ho how it might be

possible for there to be more than just matter on matter work. The idea of a mind state

or having a soul which makes us appeal to emotions and the choices we make as

humans.

Purpose and Audience

The purpose of the research report is to very detailedly inform the reader of how

growing up in poverty is very closely related with reduced thinking achievement as

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measured by intelligence tests. It talks about how scientist conduct test using

neuroscience to try to relate how growing up in poverty affects the way the brain is able

to learn and be responsive to intelligence because of living conditions and other factors.

Factors such as prenatal care, nutrition, lead exposure, psychological factors such as

stress, parental care and genetic factors.(Childhood Poverty pg 169

http://www.duke.edu/~mgg6/sdarticle.pdf). All of these things are a few of the listing

factors in the research of understanding why the mind responds or doesn’t respond in

the brains of these children who grow up in poverty. The audience for this report are

neuroscientist who have a similar study field or those who are specifically interested in

the topic for it has to be looked up. People who read this more tan likely already know

that neuroscience is the study of the brain and its functions, and with this report, they

will learn about the test that where realized and the results of the test in studying

childhood poverty using neuroscience. If the reader is a scientist or interested reader

he/ she would spend a good couple of minutes reading the whole article then re reading

it for further understanding and revising. The youtoube video on the other hand is made

for a broader audience of people but is still just limited to talking about neuroscience.

The video is only a little more than two minutes but the speaker delivers information and

detail throughout the whole video. This video does not talk about poverty but gives the

idea to the other side of the story on poverty and neuroscience, the mind. The audience

is given information to help him/her think further about how the brain works and the

possible existence of a soul or mind conscience. The power of choice which makes us
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human so different from any other species could be more than just matter on matter at

work or is there something else that influences our decisions in life.

Rhetorical Issues & Stucture

The youtube video leaves the ability to be credible to the viewers opinion and

how he or she understand or how helpful or true they find the information to be and the

way in which the speaker presents it. One of the things the speaker does to appeal to

the audience is by using emotion and using a real life example. Giving the viewers a

situation to put in their minds and thin about to help them understand what he is talking

about. something that a large audience can relate to in real life and make a kind of

mental connection with the speaker as he explains how we humans make many

different choices which are influenced by our beliefs and moral views.

The research atricle is a lot more formal and uses scientific vocabulary which

helps further explain the material which is being discussed such as the test themselves

or the results. The articles gives a brief introduction to the subject and topic of the article

and continues on to give detailed description of the test conducted, how, where and on

who they where conducted and the results of the various test and hat they mean. They

provide with details on recorded data and information as well as new data gathered from

he test to build up credibility. The article explains situations and variable factors which

might be overlooked in research and gives detail and information on how their test are

uncovering and looking into every possible cause for changes and new knowledge.

The research article is the strongest genre that conveys the information to the

reader effectively. Even though it involves a little patience and reading there is no
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question about the clarity of the work and the strong support of evidence and detail

throughout the whole report and the consistency of the information provided. If some

one without prior knowledge of the subject read the article carefully they would be able

to understand it and get a very good look at what neuroscience is and what it does

because of the extensive detail and formality of the paper which was written by very

smart and intelligent scientist and neuroscientist. The video does convey a strong

message which has been at the top of discussions in the science world and which

almost everyone can relate to, the human soul. The existence of a soul which is more

than just a brain at work, but something else that cannot be explained by science which

shapes our decisions and choices in life and that is why humans live the lives that they

live wether in poverty or wealth. Neuroscience may not be able to answer every

question or might not be the ultimate answer for the mysteries of life and why it is, but it

can help us understand little by little common factors or patterns which can be treated or

changed to help better the life of those who need help and can be helped.
Running head: NEUROSCIENCE AND POVERTY 1

Reference Page

Farah, Martha J., David M. Shera, Jessica H. Savage, Laura Betancourt, and Joan M. Giannetta.

"Childhood Poverty: Specific associations with neurocognitive development ."

ScienceDirect. ELSEVIER, 21 June 2006. Research Pro. Web. 21 Feb. 2011.

<http://www.duke.edu/~mgg6/sdarticle.pdf>.

Neuroscience . Narr. Randall Niles. reflect7, 2008. Web. 21 Feb. 2011.

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kssqG9_J5E&feature=related>.