2022 Frontal Cortex Gordon Research Conference

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Abstract The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is involved in all aspects of cognition and behavior and has established roles in all forms of mental illness and substance use disorders. The PFC has been studied intensely over the past four decades. Interest in studies of the PFC in animal models has grown at a pace equal to that of human studies on the PFC. Surprisingly, no established meetings exist that focus on the PFC and bring together researchers using different animal models (non-human primates, rats, mice) and a variety of experimental approaches (e.g., lesions, pharmacology, anatomy, physiology, molecular tools, computational models). A new Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on the Frontal Cortex has been established to provide a forum for researchers interested in the PFC and related cortical areas (e.g., OFC). The GRC will convene in Ventura, CA in August 2022. It is our hope that financial support can be obtained from the NIH to support the meeting. Support from NIH will allow us to offset the attendance costs of our invited speakers and trainees, especially from underrepresented groups. We propose the following Aims: (1) To convene a diverse scientist workforce around fundamental questions in research on the frontal cortex. The conference will feature panels on fear/aversive and reward/appetitive learning, which to our knowledge have not been discussed together at other meetings, and comparative neuroanatomy, a topic that is crucial for relating preclinical findings to current research in human populations. (2) To unite a diverse scientist workforce around emerging technologies in frontal cortex research. Panels will discuss the use of powerful tools such as optogenetics, chemogenetics, and calcium imaging and how they can be used to link studies in mice and rats to findings from studies in humans and non-human primates. (3) To promote the development of women scientists, early-career researchers, and under-represented investigators in frontal cortex research. We will host a networking and mentoring PowerHourTM focused on negotiation across career stages.