2025 Modulation of Neural Circuits and Behavior Gordon Research Conference and Gordon Research Seminar

Project Summary The 2025 GRC chairs are organizing a Gordon Research Conference (GRC) with an associated Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) for young scientists on “Modulation of Neural Circuits and Behavior” from May 18-23, 2025, in Les Diablerets, Switzerland. Brains adjust information processing and optimize behaviors in response to ever-changing environmental demands. This astonishing flexibility relies on neuromodulatory systems, encompassing catecholamine and neuropeptide signaling. Neuromodulation facilitates dynamic and adaptive neuronal processing both locally and brain-wide across various temporal scales. The modulation of brain functions regulates basic survival behaviors such as sex, aggression, or parental care, and it is of crucial importance for cognitive functions such as decision-making and learning. Deep insights into neuromodulation are not only critical to understanding the neural basis of intelligence and behavior but also to understanding how different mental states, motivations, salience, and other important phenomena are controlled. Moreover, mechanistic insights into neuromodulatory mechanisms are key to understanding brain dysfunctions and diseases, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and many others. Although foundational discoveries about neuromodulatory systems were made decades ago, new methods for in vivo imaging, neuronal and neural circuit manipulation, quantification of behavior, and computational modeling are revisiting and providing new insights into the role of neuromodulation in circuit dynamics and behaviors. The 2025 “Modulation of Neural Circuits and Behavior” GRC/GRS will bring together scientists with diverse backgrounds to discuss current concepts and exciting new results in this growing field. The meeting will cut across disciplines and model organisms and focus on topics with a high potential to synergize. Rather than following traditional subdivisions of the broad field of neuromodulation, the session topics will bridge between scientific communities and disciplines. The organizing committee expects that the organized and informal discussions will generate new insights and highlight promising directions for future progress.