Origins and Diversity of Neuromodulatory Mechanisms that Serve Basic Biological Needs

Basic biological needs, such as food, sleep or sex, modulate many physiological processes and drive the evolution of highly specialized and complex behaviors. The intensity and complexity of such biological drives and corresponding physiological states involve the modulation of a variety of neural circuits, where the interplay between neuromodulation and behavioral outcomes optimize survival in the changing environment.

This 2017 GRC meeting will bring together scientists from different disciplines to address neuromodulatory mechanisms that shape behaviors in response to these needs in health and disease. The meeting will include several general discussion sessions that aim to elucidate the similarities and distinctions across species and allow integration of concepts among diverse fields and the synthesis of general principles that underlie neuromodulation. Optimally, the organized and informal discussions, as well as the talks from invited speakers and from selected abstracts, of this meeting should highlight promising directions and promote renewed perspectives for the broad field of neuromodulation.