Megan Gunnar, Regents Professor in the Institute of Child Development, talked with Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) about why children born into poverty are at increased risk for toxic stress that can hinder brain development. When families live without housing, food, or stability, or where there is physical or emotional abuse, according to Gunnar, a bio-chemical reaction in a child’s brain can delay development of the brain.
“The reason the stress chemicals don’t come back down is the adults who help children regulate stress are not there or present, or they are themselves dysfunctional because they are experiencing toxic stress in their lives,” Gunnar said in the MPR story.

Listen to a podcast of Gunnar’s interview below: