SfN President Diane Lipscombe, PhD, President-Elect Barry Everitt, PhD, and Past President Richard Huganir, PhD, released the following statement, reflecting on those who were unable to attend Neuroscience 2018 because of restrictive travel policies in the United States and other countries and continuing to affirm the Society’s support for free exchange of information, diversity, and global collaboration in science.

New research revealed today highlights the power of animal studies to explore mechanisms of opioid addiction, withdrawal, and relapse to inform new prevention strategies and treatments for people. 

Sleep disruptions are associated with many brain disorders, including anxiety, dementias, and traumatic brain injury. While these disruptions are sometimes viewed as a side effect of brain disorders, new findings presented today suggest that aberrant sleep-wake cycles can also drive brain pathology.

Studies that link breakdowns in the brain’s blood vessels to Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia were presented today at Neuroscience 2018, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world’s largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.

Promising findings from preclinical animal studies show the potential of gene therapy for treating incurable neurological disorders. In new research presented today, scientists successfully used gene therapy to slow the progression and improve symptoms of disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.

While solitary confinement is an extreme example affecting a relatively small portion of the population, social isolation and persistent loneliness are a growing problem in the United States.

Neuroscientists are developing a clearer picture than ever before of how the animal brain processes social information, from status and competitive advantage in a group to the calls and vocalizations of peers.

The virtual conference will explore the power and applications of optogenetics and draw together leading researchers in the field to examine how this technology is revolutionizing neuroscience.

You could win $1,000 and a trip to Neuroscience 2017 in Washington, DC. Learn more »

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