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.