2010 Neurobiology of Cognition Gordon Research Conference

描述(由申请人提供)：该提案请求部分支持将在密西西比州沃特维尔举行的新的戈登认知神经生物学研究会议。该系列会议计划每两年举行一次；该提案要求为2010年第一次会议的部分支助提供资金。这次会议的推动力是神经科学的最新发展，这些发展已经开始在系统分析、计算原理和神经生理机制的水平上揭示更高认知功能的大脑回路基础。会议的广泛和长期目标是为来自三个领域(行为和电路神经生理学、认知神经科学和计算/理论神经生物学)的研究人员提供一个质量最高的非正式论坛，以交流思想和数据，并促进合作和沟通。本次会议的具体目标将是召集大约40位发言者和讨论领袖，总共200人，在相对孤立的环境中举行四天五夜的会议，会议的形式是专门为促进非正式讨论而设计的。这项暂定计划有八个环节，涉及工作记忆、决策、选择性注意、任务规则和任务切换、记忆网络、大规模大脑电路动力学、功能磁共振信号的神经基础以及与精神疾病相关的认知缺陷的电路基础等大脑机制方面的当前问题。此外，简短的演讲和两个海报会议将允许所有参与者对这些主题做出贡献。这项申请的意义在于，我们新的、高度跨学科的领域迫切需要这样一次会议，它将定义和推动这一现代科学重要领域的研究。这次会议与医疗保健高度相关，因为我们对认知功能大脑机制的了解取得的进展将直接影响我们治疗与精神分裂症和ADHD等精神障碍相关的认知缺陷的能力。 公共卫生相关性：这项建议与医疗保健高度相关，因为我们对认知功能大脑机制的了解进展将直接转化为与精神障碍相关的认知缺陷的新的和更好的治疗方法，如精神分裂症的工作记忆和决策功能障碍，ADHD的注意力异常，以及自闭症的社会认知障碍。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal requests partial support for a new Gordon Research Conference on Neurobiology of Cognition, to be held in Waterville, NH. The meeting series is planned to take place biennially; this proposal requests funds for partial support of the first meeting in 2010. The impetus for this meeting is the recent developments in Neuroscience that have begun to uncover the brain circuit basis of higher cognitive functions at the level of systems analysis, computational principles, and neurophysiological mechanisms. The broad and long-term goal of the conference is to provide an informal forum with the highest quality for investigators from three fields (behavioral and circuit neurophysiology, cognitive neuroscience, and computational/theoretical neurobiology) to exchange ideas and data, and to foster collaboration and communication. The specific aims of this meeting will be to convene about 40 speakers and discussion leaders with a total of up to 200 participants for a four day/five night conference in a relatively isolated setting, with a format specially designed to foster informal discussions. The tentative program has eight sessions that address current issues on the brain mechanisms of working memory, decision making, selective attention, task rule and task switching, memory networks, large-scale brain circuit dynamics, the neural basis of fMRI signals, and circuit basis of cognitive deficits associated with mental illness. In addition, short talks and two poster sessions will permit all participants to contribute to these topics. The significance of this application is that our new and highly cross-disciplinary field urgently needs such a meeting, which will define and propel research in this important area of modern science. This meeting is highly relevant to healthcare, as progress in our understanding of the brain mechanisms of cognitive functions will directly affect our ability to treat cognitive deficits associated with mental disorders such as schizophrenia and ADHD. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This proposal is highly relevant to healthcare, as progress in our understanding of the brain mechanisms of cognitive functions will directly translate into novel and better treatments of cognitive deficits associated with mental disorders such as dysfunctions of working memory and decision making in schizophrenia, attention abnormalities in ADHD, and impairments of social cognition with autism.