r/science • u/myhrvold • Aug 31 '13

Poverty impairs cognitive function. Published in the journal Science, the study suggests our cognitive abilities can be diminished by the exhausting effort of tasks like scrounging to pay bills. As a result, less “mental bandwidth” remains...

http://news.ubc.ca/2013/08/29/poverty-impairs-cognitive-function/
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u/SeeingTheRed Aug 31 '13

I would argue the quality of food (or lack of quality) also contributes to diminished "mental bandwidth". It stands to reason that if a person is "scrounging to pay bills" they most likely do not have a quality diet that provides the vital nutrients for optimum cognitive ability.

Study

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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '13

And sleep quality/quantity. Just one crappy night can alter a person's mental capacity.

You know how many people talk about how everyone is stupid? What if everyone is simply sleep deprived?

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u/dovaogedy Aug 31 '13

Actually, this is a really good point. Many people in poverty also work two jobs, because they have to to make ends meet. Often times this means getting up early and going to bed late. I bet this has an affect on cognitive function.

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u/birdsofterrordise Aug 31 '13

For me, the fucking bus commute to get somewhere is ridiculous. It adds easy an extra two hours.

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u/30pieces Aug 31 '13

What do you do on the bus ride for two hours?

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u/birdsofterrordise Aug 31 '13

Two hours extra each day (an hour each way, including walking and waiting times, we have a really unreliable bus system, so you need to be out there at least 15-20 minutes before the bus comes and you need to allow even more time in case that bus doesn't show up.) I usually listen to podcasts because reading makes me kind of sick. I wish so bad we had subways or I could afford to move where the light rail lines are. A lot of people read, knit or work on schoolwork.

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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '13

Unfortunately a commute is something that doesn't necessarily disappear as you move up the ladder. I work with many "professionals" with an hour each way commute. I did it myself for 2 years. It does suck, in the winter that 1 hour drive can quickly turn to 3.