Crafting a MOSAICin Support of DISCOVERY FY2O12 | ANNUAL REPORT CONTENTS SCIENCEin SOCIETY SCIENCEin PROGRESS 4 SfN Mission, Vision, and Values Exploring the progress and potential of 6 Message from the President neuroscience research and its impact on the world around us. 8 Creating Venues for Great Science 9 Annual Meeting: Neuroscience 2011 11 The Journal of Neuroscience 12 Tackling Group Behavior Neuroscientists are exploring the biological roots of individual and group behaviors and determining how the world we live in affects Supporting the Neuroscience the decisions we make. 16 Community 12 Neuroeconomics: A Window into Human Behavior 17 Membership and Chapters 14 Group Think: The Science of the Social Brain 19 Professional Development Educating and Engaging the Public 26 27 Public Information and Outreach 22 Understanding and Treating ADHD 28 Science Advocacy Scientists are putting the causes and treatments of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder under the microscope in hopes of 30 one day curbing its prevalence. 22 Confronting Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Financial and Organizational 24 Brain Chemical Transporters: 32 Highlights Solving the Ritalin Paradox MISSION Advance the understanding of the brain and the Promote public information and general education nervous system by bringing together scientists of diverse about the nature of scientific discovery and the results backgrounds, by facilitating the integration of research and implications of the latest neuroscience research. directed at all levels of biological organization, and by Support active and continuing discussions on ethical encouraging translational research and the application issues relating to the conduct and outcomes of of new scientific knowledge to develop improved disease neuroscience research. VALUES treatments and cures. Inform legislators and other policymakers about In carrying out all of its activities, the Society for Neuro- Provide professional development activities, new scientific knowledge, recent developments, and science is committed to the following: information, and educational resources for neuroscien- emerging opportunities in neuroscience research and ■ Identifying and serving the evolving needs of SfN tists at all stages of their careers, including undergradu- their implications for public policy, societal benefit, and members as well as the field of neuroscience. ates, graduates, and postdoctoral fellows, and increase continued scientific progress. participation of scientists from diverse cultural, ethnic, ■ Actively promoting the idea that progress in and geographic backgrounds. understanding the nervous system depends on the honest pursuit of scientific research and the truthful representation of findings. ■ Continuing to promote greater diversity of representa- VISION tion of women, minorities, and young investigators, along with geographic and specialty balance, in SfN’s Guided by its mission and its values, the vision of the social, ethical, and technical dimensions. Some of these meetings, conferences, committees, and governance Society for Neuroscience (SfN) is that the next ten years challenges are common to biomedical research in general processes. should be a decade of breakthrough discovery in neurosci- and to its subdisciplines of bioinformatics and scientific ■ Seeking new and innovative ways to utilize technology ence and breakthrough translation of scientific advances to ethics. Others are unique to neuroscience by virtue of the in ongoing activities to better serve members and improve the health of people everywhere. tremendous complexity of neural circuits and their role in to help manage the problems of scale as a successful SfN represents the entire range of scientific research controlling behavior. This entails opportunities as well as association in the 21st century. endeavors aimed at understanding the nervous system responsibilities for the neuroscience community to develop and translating this knowledge to the treatment and novel tools and approaches for integrating and advancing ■ Fulfilling its Mission in a socially, economically, prevention of nervous system disorders. It fosters the broad our understanding of the nervous system. and environmentally responsible fashion, including interdisciplinarity of the field that uses multiple approaches SfN will play a key role in confronting new issues as they minimizing SfN’s environmental footprint through (e.g., genetic, molecular, cellular, anatomical, neurophysi- challenge and energize the field. This will require active energy efficiency, recycling, and other initiatives, and ological, system, comparative, evolutionary, computational, dialogue between SfN and federal funding agencies (NIH, being mindful of the broader impact of its day-to-day and behavioral) to study the nervous system of organisms NSF, and others) to define current needs and to develop practices, decisions, and actions. ranging from invertebrates to humans across various stages strategies for meeting them. SfN’s perspective on the ■ Developing effective strategic relationships and collab- of development, maturation, and aging. SfN facilitates current nature of the field and its future trajectory permeates orative initiatives with appropriate external partners, the translation of this fundamental knowledge into all the elements of this strategic plan and will guide the including other scientific societies and associations, strategies for the treatment of nervous system disorders, initiatives aimed at enhancing the key scientific functions health advocacy groups, foundations, public agencies, including neurological, neurosensory, neurodevelopmental, of SfN, including the annual meeting and The Journal of government entities, educational institutions, corporate psychiatric, addictive, and other related illnesses. It also Neuroscience. This perspective will guide the ways in which entities, information technology service providers, etc. encourages information transfer from the clinic back to SfN will strive to serve its membership and will frame the the basic research arena. In these ways, SfN contributes to public outreach and governmental interactions of SfN. ■ Building a model of iterative planning into the fabric the breadth of the field of neuroscience, its highly dynamic SfN supports the open exchange of scientific informa- of SfN governance and management processes, incor- nature, and its creative use of all the tools of modern biol- tion both among scientists and between scientists and porating regular evaluation of the impact and success ogy to understand neural function in health and disease. the public. The Society is committed to ensuring that of initiatives and activities, and periodic revisiting of Neuroscience is a rapidly evolving field that benefits its published materials are scientifically accurate and are major programs and activity clusters. greatly from, and helps to drive, the ongoing develop- widely accessible to interested audiences. The Society ment of powerful new tools for acquiring and analyzing seeks to ensure that its access policies and practices for experimental data. The effort to make efficient use of the information dissemination are consistent with these goals, staggering amounts and diversity of information known and with the sustainability of a system requiring careful about the nervous system raises challenges that have scientific review prior to publication. 4 | F Y 2 O 1 2 ANNUAL REPORT C R AFTING A M O SAI C I N S UPP O RT OF D ISC O VER Y | 5 MESSAGE from the President t a time of both unparalleled opportunity and con- the organization also investigated new ways of enhancing platform for discussing the progress and promise of brain Asiderable challenge in the neuroscience community, their offerings. Outstanding science at the 2011 annual research. Both U.S. and global advocacy initiatives also Changing Member Professional the Society for Neuroscience made significant progress meeting drew the second largest attendance in the expanded, including a partnership with the Federation Demographics Development in FY2012 on programs that support and strengthen the Society’s annual meeting history, and Neuroscience of European Neuroscience Societies to enhance the field. Several initiatives have been launched by SfN 2012 plans include a new meeting mobile app and a work of national societies in Europe and worldwide. Council and committees while others are developing, demonstration of “dynamic posters” using flat screens. Continued dialogue with U.S. policymakers occurred creating a strong mosaic of activities that serve an Additionally, The Journal remained the most frequently through Capitol Hill visits, laboratory tours, and coalition increasingly global, diverse, and growing membership. cited peer-reviewed journal in the field, while SfN made partnerships, including Research!America, One Mind for Social Media and A major theme of my presidency has been to emphasize significant enhancements to its online and mobile access. Research, and the American Brain Coalition. The Society Technology advocacy and greater funding for neuroscience research. also engaged with the White House Office of Science and A major theme of my presidency Technology Policy to discuss significant new opportunities Sustaining High-Value Programs, “ and strategies for promoting neuroscience research. Establishing New Targets has been to emphasize A number of leading SfN members provided ideas for SfN continues to implement successful programs that innovative and