Neurogenetic analysis of behavioral circuits

Thursday, November 07, 2013 — Concurrent Symposia Session II
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.	FAES Academic Center lower-level Classroom 3

Co-chairs

Harold Burgess, NICHD
Kevin Briggman, NINDS

Program

This symposium will focus on the use of neurogenetic approaches in model systems to facilitate the understanding of how neuronal circuits control behavior. The announcement by the White House of an initiative to map brain function has highlighted the need for detailed structural and functional maps of brain circuits. Such maps will ultimately form the basis for understanding the fundamental disruptions that occur in currently incurable neurological disorders including schizophrenia and autism. These mapping endeavors have been made possible by recent technical advances, including new transgenic and viral methods for optically monitoring and manipulating neuronal circuit function, systems genetics approaches, multi-electrode electrophysiology, and high throughput methods for constructing detailed maps of neuronal connectivity. Further technological breakthroughs will be required for this vision to be achieved, necessitating collaborative efforts by multi-disciplinary teams. This symposium will foster such collaboration between the many NIH researchers with advanced expertise in genetics, physiology and microscopy.

Genetic dissection of color-vision circuit in drosophila
Chi-Hon Lee, NICHD

Unraveling brain-stem respiratory circuits
Jeffrey Smith, NINDS

Nicotinic synapses: in vivo studies using zebrafish larvae
Fumihito Ono, NIAAA

A systems genetics approach to sleep in drosophila
Susan Harbison, NHLBI

Molecular genetics of retinal ganglion cell type differentiation
Tudor Badea, NEI

Optogenetic studies of presynaptic calcium modulation in midbrain neuron terminals; FARE Award Winner
Carmelo Sgobio, NIA