- The study utilized students' scores on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) in 2012.
- MCAS tests were administered in March and May. Scaled scores were obtained for Math and English/Language Arts. 


Barnard College

- Participants
- Income groups 
- Standardized test scores
- Neuroimaging-data acquisition
- Structural-imaging analyses 

 Correlation of cortical grey matter with the income-achievement gap: Methods

Mackey A. P., Finn A. S., Leonard J. A., Jacoby-Senghor D. S., West M. R., Gabrieli C. F. O., et al. . (2015). Neuroanatomical correlates of the income-achievement gap. Psychol. Sci. 26, 925–933. 10.1177/0956797615572233

Neuroanatomical correlates of the income achievement gap

- Participants were recruited from various institutions as part of a larger study on adolescent neurocognitive development. 
- Data from 58 students (27 male, 31 female) was analyzed. 
- Student participants provided written assent while parents provided written consent. 
- The participants did not differ in age. 
- The higher-income group reported these racial and ethnic identities: 6% African American, 14% Asian, 54% White, 3% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 17% multiple races, 6% did not report race. 91% reported not Hispanic, 3% Hispanic, and 6% did not report ethnicity. 
- The lower-income group reported these identities: 22% African American, 4% Asian, 54% White, 4% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 26% multiple races, 35% did not report race. 35% reported not Hispanic and 65% Hispanic. 


Correlation of cortical grey matter with the income-achievement gap methods: Participants


- The status of students receiving free or reduced-price lunches was obtained from a database from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
- Twenty-three students (7 boys, 16 girls) received free or reduced-price lunch within their 3 years of participation in the study, while 35 students (20 boys, 15 girls) did not. 

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