Conference: 2024 Neural Mechanisms of Acoustic Communication Gordon Research Conference and Seminar

该项目的目的是支持戈登研究会议组织的一个小型会议（约150名参与者），讨论声学（包括声乐）通信的神经机制。会议的主要重点是比较和机械方法来研究神经回路，这些神经回路在代表8亿年进化的类群中介导交互式声学行为。这种方法的声学通信的神经机制的研究，深入了解神经功能的一般机制，并导致新的分析和实验方法的发展。组织者的目标是创造一个环境，通过揭示广泛相关的算法来生成对话，从而实现对声学通信神经基础的机械和统一的理解。这些交流将通过鼓励新的想法和合作，突出该领域的多样性，激励和指导下一代科学家来推进声学通信研究。申请资金将用于增加机构多样性和对早期职业调查人员和学生的支持。2024年戈登研究会议（GRC）专注于声学通信（NMAC）的神经机制，还将包括为博士前和博士后学员举办的相关戈登研究研讨会（GRS）。会议的目的是聚集该领域的顶级研究人员讨论他们的最新发现，同时也为年轻的研究人员和研究生提供机会，与这些既定的研究人员一起展示他们的工作。 这个小型会议的形式是为讨论和辩论而优化的，2024年NMAC有三个具体目标：1）通过提供一个鼓励问题和讨论的环境来推进声学通信研究，挑战当前的思维，并为新的合作提供机会; 2）为来自不同通信系统的研究人员创建一个独特的互动论坛，并打破专注于不同模型系统的社区之间的界限，大脑区域，研究方法;和3）教育新的和早期的职业调查。对于那些对通信背后的神经回路感兴趣的人来说，没有像NMAC GRC这样的会议。因此，NMAC在GRC家族中是独一无二的，因为它专注于行为，而不是大脑区域（例如，小脑），一种方法（例如，光遗传学），或细胞过程（例如，神经可塑性）。该项目的资金将支持一个独特的机会，让顶尖研究人员以高度跨学科的方式聚集在一起，寻找关于一种关键的和进化的古代行为的新的共同点，这种行为的产生和感知是大脑功能的基本特征。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查进行评估来支持的搜索.

The purpose of this project is to support a small meeting (~150 participants) organized by the Gordon Research Conference to discuss the neural mechanisms that underly acoustic, including vocal, communication. A primary focus of the meeting is on comparative and mechanistic approaches to the study of neural circuits that mediate interactive acoustic behavior across taxa that represent 800 million years of evolution. This approach to the study of the neural mechanisms underlying acoustic communication lends insight into general mechanisms of neural function and leads to the development of novel analytical and experimental approaches. The organizers aim to create an environment that generates conversations that will achieve a mechanistic and unifying understanding of the neural underpinnings of acoustic communication by uncovering broadly relevant algorithms. These exchanges will advance acoustic communication research by encouraging new ideas and collaborations, highlighting diversity in the field, and inspiring and mentoring the next generation of scientists. The request funds will be used to increase institutional diversity and support of early career investigators and students. The 2024 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) focused on the Neural Mechanisms of Acoustic Communication (NMAC) will also include an associated Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) for pre- and postdoctoral trainees. The aim of the meeting is to assemble top researchers in the field to discuss their latest findings while also providing the opportunity for young investigators and graduate students to present their work alongside these established investigators. The format of this small meeting is optimized for discussions and debates and the 2024 NMAC has three specific aims: 1) To advance acoustic communication research by offering an environment that encourages questions and discussion, challenges current thinking, and provides opportunities for new collaborations; 2) to create a unique forum for interaction for researchers from a diversity of communication systems and break down boundaries between communities focused on different model systems, brain regions, research approaches; and 3) to educate new and early career investigators. There exists no meeting like the NMAC GRC for those interested in the neural circuits underlying communication. NMAC is therefore unique within the GRC family because it is focused on a behavior, rather than a brain region (e.g., cerebellum), a method (e.g., optogenetics), or a cellular process (e.g., neuroplasticity). The funds from this project will support a unique opportunity for a diverse gathering of top researchers in a highly interdisciplinary fashion to find new common ground concerning a critical and evolutionary ancient behavior whose production and perception is a fundamental feature of brain function.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.