CONFERENCE GOALS AND ORGANIZATION

The conference will consist of six scientific sessions, each focusing on a particular aspect or attribute of the brain. The objectives for each session are to share a perspective on the major outstanding basic science and clinical questions in the area, to better understand the current and upcoming bioimaging techniques that could be applied to solving these questions, and to stimulate creative discussion about the future role of imaging within the particular neuroscience domain.

Each session will begin with a broad overview presentation by the session leader bringing us up to date on the state of the field and reviewing the major challenges still to be faced in this area of investigation.

This will be followed by four brief talks by basic and clinical scientists, (bioimagers and users of other experimental techniques) who are conducting research in the forefront of their area and/or are applying or developing novel imaging methods and technologies in the field.

Finally, a panel consisting of a panel leader, the session leader and speakers and additional panelists will discuss the ideas presented as well as some alternative perspectives. This lively section should stimulate creative, unreserved, and productive dialogue. Audience participation will be an important part of the panel discussion.

Throughout the conference speakers are urged to present new or untested ideas, unpublished work, and frank opinion. To encourage free thought, there will be no published proceedings or abstracts, so everything discussed will be "off the record."

The planned social and cultural events, shared free time and meals, small number of conference attendees, and the secluded location of our meeting will add to the intimate atmosphere of the conference.