The effects of poverty on human psychology is an under-researched area. However, new insights from brain scanning and cognitive testing is revealing an interesting relationship between brain functioning and income. Research shows a very high correlation between income and areas of brain functioning such as cognitive processing. Research has not identified causality. So it is not possible to say poverty causes brain changes or brain functioning accounts for poverty. These differences might be account for in terms of diet for example. But this research is offering a new direction into understanding the the relationship between poverty and development. For more information click here, here or here.