WORKSHOP ON BIOLOGY OF
SOCIAL COGNITION
July 14 - 20, 2008
Application Deadline: March 15, 2008

Arranged by : David Skuse, University College London, UK
Ralph Adolphs, Caltech

The past few years have seen remarkable advances in our knowledge of the genetic, molecular, and neural factors that contribute to social behavior. At the same time, sophisticated analytical and theoretical approaches have helped to make sense of the data. This week-long workshop aims to provide a comprehensive overview of these topics. Whilst the emphasis will be on social cognition in humans, there will also be study days dedicated to state-of-the-art presentations on comparative approaches and evolutionary models. Finally, all themes will be related to the clinical consequences of dysfunctional social cognition, and the role of translational research. The course will include introductory seminars on key themes, offered every morning. There will be afternoons devoted largely to practical sessions that provide hands-on experiments in consultation with seminar leaders, rounded off by after-supper keynote lectures by leading scientists that reflect cutting-edge and future views related to our theme for that day. Ample breaks will allow time not only for informal interactions between lecturers and students, but also for reading, swimming, tennis and other outdoor activities available at the Center.

Speakers include:
Sarah Blakemore: development of social cognition
Lisa Parr: social cognition in chimpanzees
Ian Couzin: collective behavior
Daniel Tranel: frontal lobes
Christian Keysers: mirror neurons & the human mirror system Robert Schultz: autism & face processing
John Allman: evolution of the social brain
Turhan Canli: imaging, genomics
Ralph Adolphs: amygdala
Larry Young: pair bonding in voles
Allen Moore: evolution of social insects
Antonio Rangel: neuroeconomics and social cognition
Simon Fisher: developmental disorders, FOX-P2 & language
David Skuse: X-linked genes
Larry Cahill: sex differences
Thomas Insel: future issues and funding

Please note that selection criteria for attendance at the workshop will be similar to that for regular Cold Spring Harbor courses. Limited financial support is available but will not influence the selection process. Workshop students are expected to stay for the duration of the course. The workshop will begin on the morning of July 14 (students are encouraged to arrive on the afternoon or evening of July 13) and end by lunchtime on July 20. The workshop will be held at the Laboratory’s Banbury Conference Center located on the north shore of Long Island. All participants stay in easy walk of the Center, close to tennis court, pool and private beach.

Supported with funds provided by Autism Speaks; Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation; and the Simons Foundation.

Cost (including board and lodging): $2,120
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