Family income shapes a child's brain more than IQ

Building a human brain is an energy intensive act of singular creation. During the first five years of life, more than half of the calories a growing child consumes go directly to fueling the construction project inside their skull. This massive investment builds the neuronal connections that store language, perceive the world, and control every bodily movement. While scientists have long debated which environmental factors most influence this growth, recent data has provided a definitive answer.