How neighborhood features shape kids' brain development and reactions to stress and school changes
Neighborhood characteristics and neurodevelopment: Risk and protective factors, and susceptibility to later stressors and school disruption
This project looks at how where children live affects their brain development, behavior, and how they handle stress and changes in school.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323447 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project follows children and adolescents over several years to see how neighborhood factors — such as safety, resources, and changes over time — relate to brain development, thinking skills, and emotional regulation. Researchers combine neighborhood data with repeated brain and behavior measures and examine whether neighborhood-related differences grow, shrink, or stay the same during adolescence. The study compares results across different parts of the country and looks at how major disruptions (like public-health events or school upheaval) interact with neighborhood effects. The team also seeks neighborhood factors that help protect kids and build resilience against stress and school disruption.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are children and adolescents (approximately ages 10–20) from diverse neighborhoods who can take part in repeated brain, behavioral, and school-related assessments.
Not a fit: Adults, much younger children, or people outside the targeted age range who are not experiencing neighborhood variation are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could identify neighborhood changes or supports that help protect children's brain development and improve school and mental health outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked neighborhood conditions to brain and behavior, but large population-based longitudinal investigations across adolescence are uncommon, so this project builds on existing findings in a broader and more long-term way.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hackman, Daniel a — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Hackman, Daniel a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.