Another important priority of future research is to examine the extent to which normal adaptive and regulatory systems are affected by the harsh residential environments of blacks and other minorities. It is plausible that biological adaptation to distinctive residential environments can lead disadvantaged racial and SES groups to have some biological profiles that are different from others and to distinctive patterns of interactions between biological and psychosocial factors. A study of 249 adults in Pittsburgh found that area-based measures of SES predicted brain serotonergic responsivity independent of individual SES.77 Individuals residing in census tracts with indicators of social deprivation such as elevated rates of poverty, unemployment, and receipt of public assistance showed diminished central nervous system (CNS) serotonergic responsivity. Indices of CNS serotonergic activity are believed to play a role in trait variation in impulsiveness and aggressiveness and are related to risks of mental and behavioral disorders such as depression, substance abuse, violence and antisocial personality. Much is yet to be learned about the ways in which specific features of residential areas leads to altered biological processes that have adverse consequences on health and the extent to which such exposures are reflected in the elevated health risks of minority populations.
