How does the setting of Flowers for Algernon affect the plot?

By the setting being in New York in the 1960s in a laboratory it affects the plot by the doctors and professors being in the laboratory and closer to the testing lab. Instead of coming from their home, going to get Charlie from his home. going to the lab at the laboratory, and getting the testing tools out they can just stay at the laboratory. So they can go straight to the testing lab and continue testing it out and try it on Charlie. Then work with Charlie in the laboratory to help him get smarter.