Theme A – Development
Theme B – Neural Excitability, Synapses, and Glia
Theme C – Neurodegenerative Disorders and Injury
Theme D – Sensory Systems
Theme E – Motor Systems
Theme F – Integrative Physiology and Behavior
Theme G – Motivation and Emotion
Theme H – Cognition
Theme I – Techniques
Theme A – Development
Hair Cells to Brain Cells — The Development and Evolution of the Primary Auditory System
Chair: Richard J. Wingate, PhD
King's College London
Co-Chair: Dalit Sela-Donenfeld, PhD
The Hebrew University
Birds and mammals have auditory systems with similar functional architecture which must have arisen independently, since their last common ancestor did not exhibit a middle ear. The apparatus of the inner ear and the first-order hindbrain circuitry pose striking questions about evolution, development and functional convergence that have been illuminated by new genetic insights into the mechanisms of auditory circuit development and the analysis of the physiology of sound localisation.
Molecular Mechanisms of Cortical Development in Health and Disease
Chair: Shen-Ju Chou, PhD
Academia Sinica
Co-Chair: Xuecai Ge, PhD
University of California, Merced
Cortical development is a tightly regulated process that involves progenitor proliferation, neuronal differentiation and migration, programed cell death, and circuit formation. Emerging studies provide evidence that coordinated molecular and cellular mechanisms govern cortical development and that perturbations of these processes lead to neurodevelopmental disorders. This minisymposium will highlight the latest findings of the rules and logic for cortical development from a diverse group of researchers.
New Insights in Understanding Autism and Intellectual Disabilities — Focus on Mechanisms and Translational Approaches
Chair: Marija M. Petrinovic, PhD
King's College London
Co-Chair: Diana Cash, PhD
King's College London
Autism is frequently accompanied by intellectual disability (ID). Though different in etiology, they both overlap clinically and neuropathologically and are believed to share common neurobiological mechanisms, exemplified by shared mutations in genes for synaptic function, excitation-inhibition imbalance, and neuroinflammation. This minisymposium will present advances in the neurobiology of autism and ID and explore potential common therapeutic interventions.
RASopathies — Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Directions
Chair: Jason M. Newbern, PhD
Arizona State University
Co-Chair: Jill M. Weimer, PhD
Sanford Research
RASopathies are a family of genetic syndromes that frequently exhibit developmental delay, intellectual disability, epilepsy, and an increased risk of autism and ADHD. Many RASopathy mutations target regulators of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase-RAS-MAPK signaling. This minisymposium will focus on recent advances in our understanding of the impairments in human brain development and distinct cellular subtypes in model systems that contribute to neurological abnormalities in RASopathies.
The Logic of Developing Neocortical Circuits in Health and Disease
Chair: Ileana L. Hanganu-Opatz, PhD
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
Co-Chair: Simon Butt, PhD
University of Oxford
A vast number of diverse neurons builds an intricate and complex circuitry that account for the sensory and cognitive abilities of the neocortex. The principles and underlying mechanisms governing the assembly of neocortical circuits in early life remain elusive. This minisymposium will uncover recent evidence demonstrating the dynamic role of neuronal populations in the development of functional neocortical ensembles and highlight the cellular hubs of disease-related miswiring.
Theme B – Neural Excitability, Synapses, and Glia
Glia — The Glue Holding Memories Together
Chair: Michelle Monje, MD, PhD
Stanford University
The contribution of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes to neuronal plasticity and behavior has expanded vastly in recent years. Specifically, research of the role of glia in memory acquisition and consolidation is flourishing thanks to the assimilation of new techniques into the field. To integrate knowledge from ongoing work, this minisymposium will bring together experts that study different angles of this topic: the effect of oligodendrocytes and astrocytes; recent and remote memory; and experimental and theoretical aspects.
Molecular Mechanisms of Glial Engulfment
Chair: Aakanksha Singhvi, PhD
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Co-Chair: Mary A. Logan, PhD
Oregon Health and Science University
Engulfment of neuronal cell bodies and fragments is critical for neural health and proper circuit connectivity. These tasks are carried out by distinct glial subtypes in the central and peripheral nervous systems, but the mechanisms that govern engulfment activity are still unclear. This minisymposium will focus on recent molecular and cellular discoveries for glial phagocytic function across species and offer comparative insights and discussion regarding the development and disease-relevant function of glia.
Spatio-Temporal Regulation of RNA in Neurons
Chair: Shannon Farris, PhD
Virginia Tech
RNA is regulated from transcription to degradation to provide spatial and temporal control over gene expression. This is especially important for morphologically and functionally complex neurons. Accordingly, RNA dysregulation is a causal factor in several neurological diseases, from autism to dementia. This minisymposium will address the unconventional, activity-driven, and cell-specific roles for RNA that have expanded our understanding of RNA regulation in driving neuron function and behavior.
The Rich Dynamism of GABAergic Cell Types — Specificity and Diversity of Inhibitory Plasticity in Microcircuit Function
Chair: Soomin C. Song, PhD
New York University
Co-Chair: Chiayu Q. Chiu, PhD
Centro Interdisciplinario De Neurociencia De Valparaíso
A dynamic landscape of excitation and inhibition in the cortex sustains complex cognitive functions. Given the rich diversity of GABAergic circuits, it is unclear how inhibition changes in adaptive behavior. This minisymposium will highlight recent advances in identifying and manipulating specific GABA cell populations to understand how varied forms of GABA plasticity enable multiplexing of inhibition to match synaptic excitation and drive cortical plasticity in development and learning.
Theme C – Neurodegenerative Disorders and Injury
Axon Damage Signaling and Its Relevance to Disease
Chair: Claire E. Le Pichon, PhD
National Institute of Health
Co-Chair: Catherine A. Collins, PhD
University of Michigan
This minisymposium will present current research on mechanisms of axonal damage responses in the contexts of neuronal injury, repair, and inflammation, and will probe the role of these pathways in neurodegenerative diseases, neuropathies and developmental plasticity. Presentations will focus on the current understanding of neuronal stress signaling based on studies that span multiple model organisms and combined in vivo and molecular work. Speakers will discuss shared molecular pathways that may exist between axonal damage signaling, developmental degeneration, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Mitochondrial Neurodegenerative Diseases — From Pathogenic Mechanisms to Therapeutic Opportunities
Chair: Anne E. Chiaramello, PhD
George Washington University Medical Center
Co-Chair: Joseph Scafidi, MD
Children's National Medical Center
Mitochondria are energy powerhouses and central regulators of cell fate, redox balance and ion homeostasis. They act as central hubs for pathways involved in neural development, synaptic activity and connectivity. Mitochondrial dysfunction underlies neurological diseases ranging from childhood inherited mitochondrial disorders to adult neurodegenerative disorders. This minisymposium will provide insight into the pathogenic mechanisms of mitochondria as a springboard for designing targeted therapeutic tools.
Pathogenic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches for Frontotemporal Dementia
Chair: Fen-Biao Gao, PhD
University of Massachusetts Medical School
Autosomal dominant mutations in three genes — MAPT, GRN, and C9ORF72 — are responsible for the majority of cases of genetic frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), the most common form of dementia in people under the age of 60. This minisymposium will highlight exciting unpublished advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of FTD caused by these mutations, novel models and methodologies that have facilitated these advances, and their implications for the development of targeted therapies.
Shining Light on Neuronal Plasticity After Stroke
Chair: Anna-Sophia Wahl, MD, PhD
University of Zurich
Co-Chair: Anna Letizia Allegra Mascaro, PhD
European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy
Recent applications of optics in neuroscience provided tremendous opportunity for investigating and manipulating brain rewiring in vivo before and after stroke. Speakers will present optical methods for developing rehabilitative strategies and imaging the effects of these maneuvers at the cellular and systems level. This minisymposium will feature basic stroke research with translational potential and showcase recent advancements in optical tools for in vivo investigation of neuronal plasticity.
Theme D – Sensory Systems
Applying Mind-Body Approaches to Treat Pain — From Animal Model to Clinical Settings
Chair: Jian Kong, MD
Massachusetts General Hospital
Co-Chair: Younbyoung Chae, MD, PhD
Kyung Hee University
Chronic pain is a common disorder. An increase in the misuse and complications of opioids has resulted in a serious substance abuse crisis, highlighting the need for non-opioid treatments of chronic pain. Mind-body approaches, including acupuncture, meditation, and Tai Chi, are widely-used nonpharmacologic self-regulation approaches for the management of pain. This symposium will focus on recent developments in the neurophysiological mechanisms and clinical implications of mind-body approaches.
Building Vision — Lessons From Cell Type-Specific Subcortical Circuits for Sensory Processing and Behavior
Chair: Ubadah Sabbagh, PhD
Virginia Tech
How are neurons wired, and what does their organization tell us about how the brain processes information from the outside world? The visual system is a leading model for elucidating mechanisms governing neural circuit formation and sensory information processing. This minisymposium will highlight exciting discoveries in the study of subcortical visual circuits at every processing level, from retina to thalamus and midbrain, with new insights into cell type-specific roles in visual behavior.
Neuroimmunology of Chronic Pain — From Rodents to Humans
Chair: Peter M. Grace, PhD
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Co-Chair: Mark R. Hutchinson, PhD
University of Adelaide
The signaling partnership between immune cells, glia, and neurons is now recognized as indispensable for chronic pain. However, these multi-cellular interactions have not yet been exploited to effectively diagnose and treat chronic pain. Covering a range of model systems and pain disorders, this translational minisymposium will highlight recent advances in understanding fundamental signaling mechanisms, novel therapeutic targets, and technological developments to diagnose chronic pain.
New Insights Into the Neural Mechanisms of Sound Encoding
Chair: Sonja Pyott, PhD
University Medical Center Groningen
Co-Chair: Tobias Moser, MD
University Medical Center Goettingen
The encoding of sound makes enormous demands on the neural circuitry of the auditory system. This minisymposium will highlight recent research that has utilized a diversity of techniques — imaging, single cell RNA sequencing, and electrophysiology — to provide new insights into the mechanisms that contribute to the fast and reliable encoding of sound over a range of intensities. Importantly, these mechanisms also underlie susceptibility of the auditory system to insulting noise, ototoxic drugs and aging.
Theme E – Motor Systems
Decoding Speech From Neural Signals
Chair: Sergey D. Stavisky, PhD
Stanford University
Co-Chair: Christian Herff, PhD
Maastricht University
This minisymposium will present recent advances in decoding speech from direct neural recordings using electrocorticography, stereoelectroencephalography, and Utah arrays. These talks will cover progress toward synthesizing speech with brain-computer interfaces, as well as remaining challenges for restoring speech to patients. Speakers will also delve into the neuroscience of speech production and perception, with special emphasis on how improved biological understanding can inform translational efforts.
Rodents and Monkeys — The Two Dominant Mammalian Models and Their Respective Contributions to 黑料社
Chair: Cory T. Miller, PhD
University of California, San Diego
Co-Chair: Michele A. Basso, PhD
University of California, Los Angeles
Rodents and monkeys are the two most common mammalian models to study the nervous system. The rodent model offers a suite of powerful genetic and molecular tools that enable a detailed dissection of the role of neuronal circuits in behavior, while the primate model offers a complex behavioral repertoire and a nervous system that is more similar to that of humans. This minisymposium will emphasize the respective contributions of the two models across multiple lines of brain research.
The Neural Encoding and Representation of Time for Sensorimotor Control and Learning
Chair: Joo-Hyun Song, PhD
Brown University
The ability to produce and learn actions in the real world with precise timing is critical for survival in any mobile organism. Yet, a study on mechanisms involved in timed motor behavior and its relation to time perception is relatively scarce. This symposium will present new evidence from behavioral, computational, and neural studies in humans and non-human primates, proposing the pivotal link between sensorimotor control and temporal processing as well as new theoretical frameworks on timing.
Theme F – Integrative Physiology and Behavior
Endogenous Opioid Signaling in the Nucleus Accumbens — New Methods of Analysis, Novel Functions, and Emerging Therapeutic Opportunities
Chair: Patrick E. Rothwell, PhD
University of Minnesota
Co-Chair: Lauren Dobbs, PhD
The University of Texas at Austin
This minisymposium will highlight recent developments in understanding endogenous opioid signaling, with a focus on the nucleus accumbens — a brain region highly enriched in opioid peptides and receptors. Speakers will describe newly developed tools that are facilitating discovery of novel functions for endogenous opioid signaling. Progress in this field is leading toward new therapeutic opportunities for engaging endogenous opioid signaling while avoiding risk for abuse or addiction.
From Circuits to Chromatin — Epigenetic (Dys)regulation in Cognitive Health and Disease
Chair: Philipp Mews, PhD
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Neural circuit activity cooperates with transcriptional mechanisms within each cell to guide and adapt behavior. Fundamental to this interaction are chromatin-based processes that mediate activity-dependent gene expression and neural plasticity so as to encode new information. This minisymposium will explore the epigenetic controls that operate in distinct neural subtypes to shape behavior and provide translational insights about circuit-chromatin dysregulation in neuropsychiatric disorders.
Mechanisms of Stress in the Brain and Beyond
Chair: Carla Nasca, PhD
The Rockefeller University
Co-Chair: Cortney A. Turner, PhD
University of Michigan
The brain is the central organ in adapting to social and physical stress via multiple interacting mediators, from neurogenesis to metabolic factors to epigenetic mechanisms. Stress causes an imbalance in brain networks subserving cognition, reward-seeking behavior, and mood. This minisymposium will discuss recent basic and translational findings on neurobiological mechanisms of neuroplasticity relating to stress as well as avenues for novel treatments to promote resilience to stress-related diseases, such as depression.
Neural Mechanisms of Rodent Vocal Communication
Chair: Morgan L. Gustison, PhD
University of Texas at Austin
Co-Chair: Arkarup Banerjee, PhD
New York University Langone Medical Center
Vocal communication is a complex social behavior that requires the coordination of multiple brain regions. Despite decades of work on the neural basis of bird song, parallel research on mammals has lagged far behind. This minisymposium will present current perspectives on the neural mechanisms underlying mammalian vocal production and perception. It will highlight research from a variety of rodent species and span multiple levels of analysis, from genes to circuits.
Theme G – Motivation and Emotion
Alternative Conceptions of Habits and Their Underlying Neural Circuits
Chair: Youna Vandaele, PhD
Johns Hopkins University
The study of habitual behavior and its underlying circuits is impeded by its operationalization as an absence of goal-directed behavior. This minisymposium will focus on new approaches to characterize habit and its neural mechanisms. This transdisciplinary topic will catalyze insightful discussions about the concept of habit that will be addressed under multiple complementary perspectives, from computational and animal modeling to translation in human research on decision making and psychopathologies.
Early Life Experience and Developmental Plasticity of Neuromodulatory Circuits
Chair: Abigail M. Polter, PhD
George Washington University
Co-Chair: Catherine J. Peña, PhD
Princeton University
Early life is a critical time period where experience interacts with development to shape the neuronal circuitry of emotion, reward, and affect. This minisymposium highlights emerging work from rodent model and human studies suggesting that early life experiences such as adversity, enrichment, and exposure to drugs of abuse alter the developmental trajectory of monoaminergic circuits, with significant consequences for the physiology and behavior of the adult animal.
Hallucinogens in Mental Health — Preclinical and Clinical Studies on LSD, Psilocybin, MDMA, and Ketamine
Chair: Gabriella Gobbi, MD, PhD
McGill University
Co-Chair: Jennifer Mitchell, PhD
University of California, San Francisco
A revamped interest for the study of hallucinogens has recently emerged, especially for their potential application in psychiatric disorders. Combining behavioral, neurophysiological, optogenetic, biomolecular and neuroimaging approaches in both humans and rodents, this minisymposium will give an update on the therapeutic findings in the field of hallucinogenic drugs in mental diseases. Differences between psychedelic (i.e., LSD) versus non-psychedelic (i.e., ketamine) hallucinogens will be also highlighted.
Limbic Neuropeptidergic Modulators of Emotion and Their Therapeutic Potential for Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Chair: Joanna Dabrowska, PhD
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Co-Chair: Paul J. Marvar, PhD
George Washington University
This minisymposium will present translational research focusing on recent advances in the role of limbic neuropeptides in the regulation of emotion — particularly fear and anxiety — in animal models and human studies. Discussion will focus on the latest research on peptidergic neuromodulators including oxytocin; angiotensin II; vasopressin; and neurokinin B/tachykinin 2 and their unique potential for pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Neurobiology of Threat-Induced Behaviors
Chair: Avishek Adhikari, PhD
University of California, Los Angeles
Different innate and learned threats induce distinct defensive behaviors. However, this diversity of threats and behaviors is rarely explored. This minisymposium will discuss experiments using numerous threats in rodents, including aggressive conspecifics, predators, thermal threats and carbon dioxide. Speakers will discuss circuits that control defensive aggression, escape jumps, escape runs, freezing, avoidance and aversion. They will also consider how sex differences and developmental processes affect these phenomena.
Neurophysiology of Social Behaviors — From Information Gathering to Interaction
Chair: Fabian Grabenhorst, PhD
University of Cambridge
Co-Chair: Raymundo Baez-Mendoza, PhD
Harvard Medical School
This minisympoism will feature some of the latest findings on how neurons in frontal-subcortical circuits perform specialized functions for social behaviors across rodents and primates. The talks will examine different aspects of social behavior, including approach and defeat, social reward learning, decision simulation, social gaze interaction, and group behavior. They will also highlight new developments in innovative behavioral paradigms and neural technologies to address the unique complexity of social neuroscience.
Theme H – Cognition
Manifold Learning and Investigation of Neuronal Population Dynamics
Chair: Alon Rubin, PhD
Weizmann Institute of Science
Recent technological advances enable simultaneous recordings from large neuronal populations, opening up new possibilities for data-driven approaches to studying the neural code. Methods for dimensionality estimation and reduction help to identify neuronal dynamics that reside on lower-dimensional manifolds, and highlight key features of the computational process executed by the circuit. This minisymposium will discuss the prospects of such novel data analysis techniques to transform neuroscience research.
Posterior Cingulate Cortex — Progress in Anatomy and Physiology
Chair: Brett L. Foster, PhD
Baylor College of Medicine
This minisymposium will highlight recent progress in understanding the organization and function of the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). Speakers will discuss anatomical, electrophysiological and neuroimaging studies of the PCC in humans, non-human primates and rodents. Despite a growing interest in PCC function from multiple fields such as episodic memory, spatial navigation and cognitive control, a consensus is severely lacking. Speakers will address this issue with a comparative focus.
Systems 黑料社 of Natural Behaviors in Rodents
Chair: Emily J. Dennis, PhD
Princeton University
Animals have evolved in complex environments, producing a wide range of behaviors including navigation, foraging, prey capture, and social interactions. This minisymposium will highlight how recent advances in neural recordings, machine learning, and theoretical frameworks provide insight into the mechanisms of naturalistic behaviors. Speakers will demonstrate how ethology, ecology, and systems neuroscience can benefit from each other and how viewing individual behaviors as part of a whole increases understanding.
The Ontogeny of Hippocampus-Dependent Memories
Chair: Flavio Donato, PhD
University of Basel
Co-Chair: Cristina M. Alberini, PhD
New York University
It has long been debated whether infants can make the types of memories that in adults are processed by the hippocampus-dependent memory system, and whether the hippocampus is involved in memory processes at this age. Recent evidence has revealed that the infant hippocampus can produce long-lasting memories, but that its ability to support memory processes matures with age. This minisymposium will present recent work to unravel the ontogeny and biological correlates of hippocampus-dependent memory development.
Theme I – Techniques
Advancing Gene Therapy for Central Nervous System (CNS) Diseases
Chair: Danielle Sliter, PhD
REGENXBIO Inc.
Co-Chair: Megan McGill, MD, PhD
REGENXBIO Inc.
Adeno-Associated Viral (AAV) vectors or genetically modified hematopoietic stem cells deliver gene products into cells and organisms and have broad implications for novel therapeutics. With technologies that can cross the blood-brain barrier or safely deliver therapeutics directly to the CNS, treating neurological diseases is now becoming a reality. This minisymposium will provide a broad perspective on gene therapy, including discussions of technological advancements to treat CNS diseases.
Emerging Applications and Methodologies for Neural Interrogation
Chair: Samantha R. Santacruz, PhD
University of Texas at Austin
Co-Chair: Lan Luan, PhD
Rice University
The future of neural interfaces will leverage multi-modal approaches based on emergent optical, biological, and physical principles for neural interrogation. These methodologies for multi-scale recording and mediation of neural activity will enable new applications for investigating neural function and developing therapies. Focusing on emergent methods for neural interrogation, this minisymposium will present innovative scientific and therapeutic applications of novel approaches to interface with the brain.
Emerging Computational Research for Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders
Chair: Jessica L. Nielson, PhD
University of Minnesota
Co-Chair: J. Russell Huie, PhD
University of California, San Francisco
This minisymposium will discuss the breadth of computational resources and methodologies used to understand the complex heterogeneity of multiple neurological and psychiatric disorders. Speakers will discuss the availability of big data sets for computational research across these disorders as well as the current state of machine learning and statistical methods used for hypothesis generation. They will also identify novel computational models aiding in clinical decision support, improving diagnosis and treatment planning.
Highlights From the Era of Open Source Online Tools — From Genes to Neurons, Circuits, Behaviors, and Whole Brain Data
Chair: Dani Dumitriu, MD, PhD
Columbia University
Open source science is a rapidly growing movement to address the reproducibility crisis and spearhead efficient data sharing. The movement’s momentum has resulted in the recent emergence of many online data sharing repositories. These tools are changing the landscape and culture of neuroscience by maximizing data visibility and impact. In this minisymposium, speakers will highlight different online resources that span across multiple neuroscience sub-disciplines and discuss how these tools can propel research forward.
Patch-seq — Everything You Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask
Chair: Shreejoy Tripathy, PhD
University of Toronto
Co-Chair: Marcela Lipovsek, PhD
King's College London
Single cell transcriptomic approaches are revolutionising neuroscience and are most powerful when multiplexed with complementary techniques. By combining electrophysiology with mRNA sequencing at an individual neuron level, technically-demanding Patch-seq experiments are providing unparalleled insight into the links between gene expression and neuronal function. This minisymposium will showcase recent Patch-seq-enabled discoveries and share practical expertise that makes these experiments successful.
Spatial Transcriptomics Methods for Cell Type Identification in the Central Nervous System (CNS) — Methods and Analysis
Chair: Jennie L. Close, PhD
Allen Institute for Brain Science
Co-Chair: Brian Long, PhD
Allen Institute for Brain Science
A comprehensive census of transcriptomic cell types present in the central nervous system is only possible by preserving tissue architecture and assaying these cells in situ. Spatial transcriptomics methods make this possible by reporting on the number and location of cell types in intact tissue. This minisymposium will serve as a forum for discussing data generation, processing, and analysis methods for these emerging techniques and provide a platform for sharing results and exploring the potential of these methods.
