Interneuron Diversity

The Gordon Research Seminar on Inhibition in the CNS is a unique forum for graduate students, post-docs, and other scientists with comparable levels of experience and education to present and exchange new data and cutting edge ideas.

Inhibitory interneuron diversity arises from many distinct properties, including morphological, molecular, synaptic and physiological characteristics. The GRS program will address interneuron diversity from a variety of angles spanning their developmental origin, their roles in neuronal networks during behavior, and their importance in a variety of diseases. The GRS program provides a perfect forum for trainees to interact with their peers and learn the latest developments in central inhibition research. A multilateral platform of discussion during the seminars and poster presentations is designed to establish an interdisciplinary understanding of central inhibition for postdoctoral scientists and graduate students from many complementary areas of research. This seminar provides an ideal introduction to prepare trainees at all levels for the subsequent GRC.

The program will comprise one keynote lecture by a senior scientist in the field, three scientific sessions and two poster sessions. Speakers in the scientific sessions and poster presenters will be selected from the submitted abstracts. All presentations will be organized around three main topics within the general theme of interneuron diversity. GRS discussion leaders will be selected from participants who express their interest to fulfill this role at the time of their application. The discussion leaders and co-chairs will be assisted by three senior mentors who are expected to stimulate discussion following talks, attend posters, provide constructive feedback to the presenters, and interact with students and postdocs during the social gatherings to provide advice. The GRS chairs are responsible for of organizing and moderating the seminar. Renata Batista-Brito is a second year postdoctoral fellow interested in how different types of inhibition modulate local cortical networks, and Scott Owen is a first year postdoctoral fellow studying how synaptic plasticity and neuromodulation of specific interneurons shapes circuit activity.