Media

Gain access to top neuroscientists, press materials and special events as a credentialed reporter at SfN Global Connectome: A Virtual Event. Receive embargoed material that will provide a rich assortment of sources for quick news and feature stories by registering today.

• Ask questions during press conferences and media availabilities on headline-grabbing research.
• Interview highly accredited neuroscientists.
• Get a sneak peek of embargoed press releases.
• Search all 1,000+ abstracts and other meeting sessions.

Review SfN's Media Policy and Photography and Recording Policy.

Unraveling Gut-Microbiota-Brain Interactions

Plenary Session and Discussion: Monday, January 11, 10–11 a.m. EST

Press-Exclusive Q&A: Monday, January 11, 11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m. EST

Presenters: Mauro Costa-Mattioli, Baylor College of Medicine; Amber Alhadeff, Monell Center and University of Pennsylvania; Jun R. Huh, Harvard University 

Traditionally, when we think of behavior and neurological disorders, we think about the brain. But the microbes in the gut can influence brain function and behavior in a surprising and powerful way. This panel will discuss how microbes impact the brain and potential microbial-based treatments for neurological disorders. 

Sleep-Specific Characteristics Supporting Development, Learning, Memory, and Cognition Across Ages and Species

Scientific Panel: Monday, January 11, 2:15–3:30 p.m. EST

Press-Exclusive Q&A: Monday, January 11, 4–4:30 p.m. EST

Presenters: Gina Poe, University of California, Los Angeles; Mark S. Blumberg, University of Iowa; and Lisa Marshall, University of Lübeck

Scientists know sleep is essential for development, learning, and cognition, but they don’t yet know how or why. This panel will explore the latest discoveries about the states and features of sleep that connect and reshape the nervous system in ways that being awake cannot.

New Research from SfN Journals

Press conference: Tuesday, January 12th, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. EST

This panel will highlight unpublished, cutting-edge research from JNeurosci and eNeuro. Papers include:

Fear of Heights Neurons in the Amygdala
Authors: Jun Liu and Dong Wang, Drexel University

The Link Between Physical and Brain Health in Adolescence
Authors: Piergiorgio Salvan and Heidi Johansen-Berg, University of Oxford

Attention Changes Timing of Memory Creation and Remembering
Authors: Soroush Mirjalili and Audrey Duarte, Georgia Institute of Technology

Why Pain Matters

Plenary Session and Discussion: Wednesday, January 13, 10–11 a.m. EST

Press-Exclusive Q&A: Wednesday, January 13, 11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m. EST

Presenters: Irene M. Tracey, Oxford University; Victoria E. Abraira, Rutgers University; and Massieh Moayedi, University of Toronto

One in five Americans will experience chronic pain, yet it is still treated as an erroneous symptom and not its own disorder. This panel will highlight the unique neural profile of chronic pain and how underlying issues in sensory pathways contribute.

The Power of a Cross-Species Approach to the Neuroscience of Empathy

Scientific Panel: Wednesday, January 13, 11 a.m.–12:15 p.m. EST

Press-Exclusive Q&A: Wednesday, January 13, 12:45–1:15 p.m. EST

Presenters: Christian Keysers, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience and University of Amsterdam; Ewelina Knapska, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences; Claus Lamm, University of Vienna; and Marta A. Moita, Champalimaud Foundation

Comparing empathy across different species has the power to reveal both how brain activity creates empathetic experiences and behavior, and the evolutionary history of these intriguing elements of our social nature. This panel will dive into potential evolutionary explanations for empathy, like avoiding pain and danger, and what we can learn about human empathy by studying rats and fruit flies.