Neural Rewiring of Resilience: The Effects of Combat Deployment on Functional Network Architecture

Authors

Noga Yair, Tel-Aviv University
Tom Zalmenson, Tel-Aviv University
Omer Azriel, Tel-Aviv University
Dana Shamai-Leshem, University of Haifa
Yaron Alon, Tel-Aviv University
Niv Tik, Tel-Aviv University
Lucian Tetse-Laur, Israeli Defense Force Medical Corps
Ariel Ben-Yehuda, Israeli Defense Force Medical Corps
Daniel Samuel Pine, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program
Anderson M. Winkler, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Ido Tavor, Tel-Aviv University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-15-2026

Abstract

Background: Although combat-deployed soldiers are at high risk for developing trauma-related psychopathology, most will remain resilient for the duration and aftermath of their deployment tour. The neural basis of this type of resilience is largely unknown, and few longitudinal studies exist on neural adaptation to combat in resilient individuals for whom a pre-exposure measurement was collected. Here, we delineate changes in the architecture of functional brain networks from pre- to postcombat in psychopathology-free, resilient participants.

Methods: Tier 1 infantry recruits (n = 50) participated in this longitudinal, functional magnetic resonance imaging study together with a comparison group of university students (n = 50). Changes in within- and between-network functional connectivity were analyzed as a function of exposure group.

Results: Significant group × time interactions manifested in the default mode, cognitive control, and ventral attention networks; significant increases from baseline in both within- and between-network connectivity were noted postdeployment in soldiers only.

Conclusions: These results indicate global changes in brain functional architecture in resilient combat-deployed participants relative to age-matched students, suggesting that neural adaptation may support resilience to combat exposure.

Comments

Original published version available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.12.017

Recommended Citation

Yair, N., Zalmenson, T., Azriel, O., Shamai-Leshem, D., Alon, Y., Tik, N., Tatsa-Laur, L., Ben-Yehuda, A., Pine, D. S., Winkler, A. M., Tavor, I., & Bar-Haim, Y. (2026). Neural Rewiring of Resilience: The Effects of Combat Deployment on Functional Network Architecture. Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging, 11(1), 39–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.12.017  

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Publication Title

Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.12.017

Academic Level

faculty

Mentor/PI Department

Office of Human Genetics