Army basic training dampens brain's reward response

Basic combat training may reduce the brain's ability to respond to rewards, new study finds.

Why it matters

  • Stress from basic training may affect brain processes linked to reward and resilience.
  • Understanding how stress impacts the brain can inform mental health strategies for military personnel.

By the numbers

  • 123 Army National Guard recruits participated.
  • 10-week basic combat training program.
  • Neural responses to rewards and losses were significantly reduced post-training.

The big picture

  • Real-world stressors can alter brain function, influencing how we process both positive and negative feedback.
  • Reduced reward responsiveness has been linked to anhedonia, a symptom of depression.
  • Findings suggest potential for identifying neural markers of resilience.

What they're saying

  • A commenter notes that rewards felt significant during basic training, despite overall stress.
  • Another suggests that dampened reward responses might aid discipline and control.
  • Concerns about the impact of recruits' backgrounds on stress response results.

Caveats

  • No control group to compare changes.
  • Timing of follow-up assessments introduces uncertainty about when changes occurred.
  • Long-term impacts of neural changes are unclear.

What’s next

  • Further research needed to explore lasting effects and potential mental health implications.
  • Studies with control groups could help isolate the effects of training stress.
Source
Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging