Neuroscience 2015 in Chicago Presents Latest in Brain Research and Treatments
WASHINGTON, DC — Recent research about the brain and related disorders will be presented at Neuroscience 2015 in Chicago, Oct. 17–21. News conferences at the meeting will feature research on innovative tools for treating neurological disorders, the relationship between the gut and the brain, how stress and addiction shape the brain, and the aging brain. Live streaming of press conferences is available for off-site reporters.
Neuroscience 2015 is the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. With more than 30,000 attendees and 15,000 scientific presentations, it is the world’s largest source of emerging news about brain science and health. Credentialed media receive complimentary registration and access to an on-site press room, top neuroscientists, embargoed press materials, and special events, providing a rich collection of news and feature possibilities. Ten press conferences are held Sunday, October 18, through Tuesday, October 20.
Press Conferences:
Early Detection of Brain Disorders
Early life experiences, including those before birth, can have a profound effect on brain development. New research sheds light on how some environmental factors may prewire the brain to develop neurological disorders.
New Technologies and Big Data
Research presented here includes new methods for recording from neurons in freely behaving animals, a project to design a wearable PET scanner for high-resolution imaging while subjects are upright and mobile, and new software for analyzing the vast amounts of data generated by increasingly sophisticated tools.
The Gut-Brain Connection
The gastrointestinal tract is home to hundreds of species of bacteria, collectively known as the microbiome. New findings look at the two-way communication between the microbiome and the brain, including how chronic stress alters the composition of the microbiome and how probiotic approaches could change treatment possibilities.
Synapses, Neural Networks, and Disease
Cognition and behavior depend on communication between individual neurons and large-scale interactions between neural networks. Researchers demonstrate on how synaptic dysfunction and disorganized network activity are behind some of the cognitive symptoms in diseases such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Huntington’s disease.
A Clearer Picture of Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects 1.7 million Americans every year and is the leading cause of death and disability in children. New research in animal models suggests that there are sex differences in post-injury outcomes and that TBI can produce symptoms similar to those seen in post-traumatic stress disorder.
Harnessing the Power of Glia and Stem Cells
Glia are non-neuronal cells that provide support and protection for neurons in the nervous system. However, research presented here shows that these cells play more than a supporting role: They can regulate brain activity and, along with stem cells, can be programmed to generate new neurons in brain disease and after stroke.
Neurobiology of Social Behavior
Impaired social interaction is seen in autism and other disorders, but the brain changes responsible for this are not well understood. Researchers offer insight into potential mechanisms of social impairments, including impaired pruning of synapses and reduced inhibitory activity in the brain, and their findings suggest possible new approaches to diagnosing and treating autism and other disorders.
How Stress and Addiction Shape the Brain
Drugs are thought to be addictive because of their ability to hijack reward circuitry and the capacity of the cortex to exert top-down regulation over drug use. New studies reveal how drugs are able to shape these reward and control systems and show how chronic stress and a history of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse could increase the likelihood of relapse in drug-addicted individuals.
Tools for Treating Neurological Disorders
New tools are bridging the gap between the brain and machines, opening the door for better treatments for neurological disorders. Scientists explore the development of tools such as artificial vision prostheses, implantable LED devices for the treatment of chronic pain, and precision deep brain stimulation for psychiatric disorders.
The Aging Brain
Recent research provides insights into how brain networks important for memory and decision-making change with age, what role genes may play in preventing or accelerating memory loss, and why the aging brain is more vulnerable to neurodegenerative diseases. This has resulted in development of new diagnostic tools and therapeutic approaches for optimizing brain health in aging.
Media are required to register for credentials at www.sfn.org/media2015 so they can access press conferences, embargoed media material, and information about events.
