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Neural Response to Reward and Loss Following Basic Combat Training.
Clara Freeman1, Eric Rawls2, Collin D Teich3
1Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
Summary
Basic combat training (BCT) stress reduced neural responses to rewards and losses. Individuals with higher baseline reward-related delta activity experienced less stress impact.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Stress Research
Background:
- Brain's reward system is crucial for adaptive functioning.
- Anhedonia is linked to deficits in neural reward processing.
- Stress can negatively impact neural reward responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if basic combat training (BCT) stress reduces electrophysiological measures of reward response.
- To examine the prospective relationship between real-world stressors and neural reward processing.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the ARMOR study, analyzing electroencephalogram (EEG) data from 115 military recruits before and after BCT.
- Recruits completed a virtual gambling task to measure neural activity (RewP) in response to gain and loss feedback.
Main Results:
- Neural response to both gain and loss feedback (RewP) significantly decreased after BCT.
- Increased self-reported BCT stressors predicted reduced neural response to gains.
- Baseline delta-band reward activity predicted lower self-reported stress.
Conclusions:
- Experiencing BCT stress is associated with diminished neural processing of reward and loss feedback.
- Higher baseline reward-related delta activity may buffer against the negative psychological impact of stressors.
