An international meeting on ‘Inhibition in the CNS’ as part of the Gordon Research Conference series will be held in Les Diablerets, Switzerland, June 16-21, 2013. The long-term goal of the Conference is to increase our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underlying inhibitory synaptic transmission and the roles of GABAergic interneurons in regulating excitability of neuronal networks. A significant emphasis will be placed on the molecular and functional diversity of GABA and glycine receptors, on the mechanisms and regulation of GABA release, on the functional diversity of GABAergic interneurons and the way they enable nerve cells and neuronal networks to perform complex computations.

The aim of the meeting is to bring together junior and senior neuroscientists working on inhibition and to provide a forum for new directions and ideas in many aspects of inhibition. The five-day conference will combine research lectures by leading neuroscientists from Europe, North America and Australia with poster sessions and ‘short talks’ intended to encourage lively discussions and the free exchange of information and ideas. The meeting will contain two keynote lectures and six sessions that address current hot issues in the neurobiology of inhibition. One session will focus on the structural and functional diversity of GABAA and glycine receptors. Two sessions will discuss recent findings regarding the mechanisms of GABA release and the function and regulation of receptors in inhibitory synapses. Latest results regarding the passive and active electrical properties of GABAergic interneurons and the way they integrate synaptic inputs will also be presented in a specific session. Since interneurons comprise a very special cell population within neuronal networks, one session will bring together leading experts to present their data on how interneurons contribute to the generation of dynamic network behaviors and another session will reveal their roles in behaving animals. Finally, many opportunities will be provided for students and young postdoctoral scientists to present their results in a ‘short talk’ session as well as four afternoon poster sessions.