Society for Neuroscience

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Society for Neuroscience
AbbreviationSfN
Founded1969
Type Learned society
FocusAdvancing the Understanding of the Brain and Nervous System
Location
  • 1121 14th Street, NW Suite 1010
    Washington, DC 20005
Members
Nearly 37,000 (2017)
Key people
Gina G. Turrigiano, President ('21-'22) [1]
Website www.sfn.org

The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) is a professional society, headquartered in Washington, D.C., for basic scientists and physicians around the world whose research is focused on the study of the brain and nervous system. [2] It is especially well known for its annual meeting, consistently one of the largest scientific conferences in the world.

Contents

History

SfN was founded in 1969 [3] by Ralph W. Gerard [4] and, at nearly 37,000 members, has grown to be the largest neuroscience society in the world. [2] The stated mission of the society is to:

  1. Advance the understanding of the brain and the nervous system.
  2. Provide professional development activities, information, and educational resources.
  3. Promote public information and general education about science and neuroscience.
  4. Inform legislators and other policy makers about the implications of research for public policy, societal benefit, and continued scientific progress. [2]

Annual meeting

The society holds an annual meeting that is attended by scientists and physicians from all around the world. The first annual meeting of the society was held in Washington, DC in 1971, and it was attended by 1,396 scientists. Subsequent meetings have been held annually in a variety of cities throughout the US, with the exception of the 1988 meeting, which was held in Canada. The 2022 meeting was held in San Diego, California.

Publishing

The Journal of Neuroscience, [5] was launched in 1981 and has consistently been a multidisciplinary journal publishing papers on a broad range of topics of general interest to those working on the nervous-system. In addition, SfN publications offer breadth and depth into the rapidly developing field of neuroscience.

eNeuro, [6] was launched in 2014, SfN's open-access journal publishes high quality papers in all areas of neuroscience that increase the understanding of the nervous-system, including replication studies and negative results.

SfN's digital member magazine, Neuroscience Quarterly covers SfN news, programs, science, and events, and other neuroscience-related issues. Enhanced content includes videos, slideshows, and interactive elements.

Nexus is a digital newsletter, containing key dates and details for annual meeting attendees, the latest research for JNeurosci and eNeuro, and public education and advocacy initiatives.

Presidents

The following people have been President of the Society: [7]

Awards

SfN offers the following awards, fellowships, and honors:

Related Research Articles

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Neuro-ophthalmology is an academically-oriented subspecialty that merges the fields of neurology and ophthalmology, often dealing with complex systemic diseases that have manifestations in the visual system. Neuro-ophthalmologists initially complete a residency in either neurology or ophthalmology, then do a fellowship in the complementary field. Since diagnostic studies can be normal in patients with significant neuro-ophthalmic disease, a detailed medical history and physical exam is essential, and neuro-ophthalmologists often spend a significant amount of time with their patients.

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Viktor Hamburger was a German-American professor and embryologist. His collaboration with neuroscientist Rita Levi-Montalcini resulted in the discovery of nerve growth factor. In 1951 he and Howard Hamilton published a standardized stage series to describe chicken embryo development, now called the Hamburger-Hamilton stages. He was considered "one of the most influential neuroembryologists of the twentieth century".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sten Grillner</span> Swedish neuroscientist

Sten Grillner is a Swedish neurophysiologist and distinguished professor at the Karolinska Institute's Nobel Institute for Neurophysiology in Stockholm where he is the director of that institute. He is considered one of the world's foremost experts in the cellular bases of motor behaviour. His research is focused on understanding the cellular bases of motor behaviour; in particular, he has shown how neuronal circuits in the spine help control rhythmic movements, such as those needed for locomotion. He is the current secretary general of the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) and president of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS). For his work, in 2008 he was awarded the $1 million Kavli Prize for deciphering the basic mechanisms which govern the development and functioning of the networks of cells in the brain and spinal cord. This prize distinguish the recipient from the Nobel prizes in basic medical sciences.

Nikos K. Logothetis is a Greek biologist and neuroscientist. Logothetis studies visual perception and object recognition; he is well-known for his work demonstrating that BOLD fMRI data is related to neuronal activity. Logothetis directed the department of Physiology of Cognitive Processes at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen from 1996 to 2020. He will co-direct the International Center for Primate Brain Research in Shanghai beginning in late 2020 or early 2021.

The British Neuroscience Association (BNA) is a scientific society with around 2,500 members. Starting out as an informal gathering of scientists meeting at the Black Horse Public House in London to discuss brain-related topics, on 23 February 1968 it was formerly established as the Brain Research Association, and subsequently relaunched as the British Neuroscience Association in 1997.

The W. Alden Spencer Award is awarded to an investigator in recognition of outstanding research contributions by the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Department of Neuroscience, and The Kavli Institute for Brain Science at Columbia University. It is named after W. Alden Spencer, a Professor of Physiology and Neurology at Columbia University. The award winner also gives a lecture. In 2018, it took place at on October 9, 2018. Since 2018, the award transitioned to a biennial schedule, alternating with the Eric R. Kandel Lecture, providing a platform for honoring developing talent in the field.

Bernice Grafstein Shanet is a Canadian neurophysiologist, a professor at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York and a noted specialist in neuroregeneration research. Shanet is a Professor of Physiology and Biophysics at Weill Cornell Medical College, the holder of the Vincent and Brooke Astor Distinguished Professorship in Neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medical College, the Professor of Neuroscience for the Brain and Mind Research Institute at Weill Cornell Medical College and the first woman ever to serve as president of the American Society for Neuroscience. Shanet is famous for her studies of the transport of materials down the axon nerves and her thesis work on the mechanism of cortical spreading depression, which became a classic in its field and is acknowledged even today.

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The Karl Spencer Lashley Award is awarded by The American Philosophical Society as a recognition of research on the integrative neuroscience of behavior. The award was established in 1957 by a gift from Dr. Karl Spencer Lashley.

The International Neuroethics Society (INS) is a professional organization that studies the social, legal, ethical, and policy implications of advances in neuroscience. Its mission is to encourage and inspire research and dialogue on the responsible use of advances in brain science. The current INS President is Joseph J. Fins, MD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Paxinos</span> Greek Australian neuroscientist

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eNeuro is an open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the Society for Neuroscience. The journal publishes high-quality, broad-based research focused solely on the field of neuroscience. In addition to research manuscripts, eNeuro accepts studies that focus on null results, failure to reproduce, tools and methods, and new theories, as well as commentaries. Its editor-in-chief is Christophe Bernard (Inserm).

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The Ralph W. Gerard Award of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) is an award in neuroscience awarded annually since 1978 for Lifetime Achievement. It is the highest recognition conferred by the SfN. As of 2018, the prize winner receives US$25,000.

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Mary Elizabeth Hatten is the Frederick P. Rose Professor of neuroscience at the Rockefeller University, where she became the first female full professor in 1992. She studies the manner in which neurons migrate in the brain, which has implications for many neurological diseases, as well as cancer. Her research led to her being elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2017.

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References

  1. "SfN Presidents". www.sfn.org.
  2. 1 2 3 "Mission and Strategic Plan". Society for Neuroscience. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  3. Fields, R. Douglas (October 31, 2018). "The First Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, 1971: Reflections Approaching the 50th Anniversary of the Society's Formation". Journal of Neuroscience. 38 (44): 9311–9317. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3598-17.2018. ISSN   0270-6474. PMC   6209842 . PMID   30242052.
  4. Kety, Seymour S. (1982). "Ralph Waldo Gerard" (PDF). National Academy of Sciences . Archived (PDF) from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  5. "Journal of Neuroscience". www.jneurosci.org.
  6. "eNeuro". www.eneuro.org.
  7. "SfN Presidents". Society for Neuroscience. Retrieved December 14, 2015.