Workshop: Evolution of Motor Patterns on June 5-6, 2007 at Arlington, VA

运动模式是肌肉使用的顺序和强度，协调动物能够进行的复杂行为的运动特征，如运动、进食和发声。虽然运动模式被视为行为的基本要素，但与了解其分子，细胞和发育基础相关的困难限制了我们理解其进化的能力。将召开一次研讨会，根据发育遗传学、基因组学和比较生物学的最新进展来讨论这个问题。大约20位相关学科的专家将在两天的会议上讨论基本问题，并为理解运动模式进化的机制基础提出有希望的方向。预计将确定特别有希望的综合方法的动物系统，并就哪些方法可以提供神经系统进化这方面的关键见解提出建议。讲习班将编写一篇评论文章，发表在一份高知名度的科学杂志上，并编写一份格式精美的讲习班报告，适合广泛分发给个别教育单位和科学会议。这些出版物将有助于确定和指导未来的研究工作，并将向广大读者介绍行为进化的基本性质。

Motor patterns are the sequence and intensity of muscle use that coordinate the movements characteristic of the sophisticated behaviors that animals are capable of, such as locomotion, feeding and vocalization. While motor patterns are seen as a foundational element of behavior, the difficulties associated with learning about their molecular, cellular and developmental basis have limited our ability to understand their evolution. A workshop will be convened to discuss this problem in the light of recent advances in developmental genetics, genomics, and comparative biology. About 20 experts in related disciplines will meet for two days to address basic problems and recommend promising directions for understanding the mechanistic basis of motor pattern evolution. It is expected that particularly promising animal systems for integrative approaches will be identified, and that recommendations will be made regarding which methods can provide key insights into this aspect of nervous system evolution. The workshop will produce a review article to be published in a high-profile scientific journal and a glossy format workshop report that will be suitable for broad distribution to individual educational units and at scientific conferences. These publications will help to identify and direct future research efforts, and will reach out to educate a broad audience about the fundamental nature of behavioral evolution.