Scientific Areas of Integrated Review Groups (IRGs)
For a
listing of the Scientific Review Administrator and membership roster for each
study section, click on the study section roster under the study section name
within an IRG listed below or go to the study section index
(study sections listed alphabetically) and click on the specified roster next
to the name of the study section.
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Referral & Review |
Integrative,
Functional, and Cognitive Neuroscience IRG [IFCN] 
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The ten study sections comprising the Integrative, Functional, and Cognitive Neuroscience [IFCN] IRG review applications within a very wide range of neuroscience research aimed at furthering our understanding of how the nervous system is organized and functions at an integrative, systems level. Specific areas reviewed by the IFCN IRG include: studies of the neural basis of emotional and motivational behavior; regulation of function, at the systems level, by neuroendocrine and neuroimmune influences; the analysis of system function under varying behavioral states, such as sleep and hibernation; the basis of biological rhythms; the maintenance of homeostasis; chemosensation, hearing, balance, touch, somatosensation, and visual perception; motor systems and sensorimotor integration; the integration of multisensory information; the neurobiological basis of learning, memory and other cognitive processes; computational and theoretical models of cognitive processes; mechanisms underlying neural coding of complex stimuli (e.g., pattern recognition, spatial transformations, speech perception); and attention and its effects on information processing in the nervous system. Research proposed in applications reviewed by study sections in the IFCN IRG may have relevance to disorders or disease processes, but the emphasis would be on the effect of the process on the structure or function of the system under investigation, rather than on the disease process itself.
In addition to this IRG, the Molecular, Cellular, and
Developmental Neuroscience [MDCN] and Brain Disorders and Clinical
Neuroscience [BDCN] IRGs within CSR focus on the review of
neuroscience-related applications, and the Biobehavioral
and Behavioral Processes [BBBP] IRG also has some shared interests with the
IFCN IRG. Please see the descriptions and shared interest statements of these
IRGs for a complete description of their review venues.
The
following study sections are included in the IFCN IRG:
Neurobiology of Motivated Behavior Study
Section [NMB] (Formerly IFCN-1) Sensory, Motor and Cognitive Neuroscience Fellowship Study Section [F02B]
Neurobiology of Motivated Behavior Study Section [NMB](Formerly IFCN-1)[NMB Roster]The Neurobiology of Motivated Behavior [NMB] Study Section reviews applications on the neural basis of behavior, such as motivation and emotion. Studies include the molecular, cellular, anatomical, genetic and neurobiological bases of motivated and emotional behavior. Emphasis is on the neuronal circuits critical to the mediation of positively and negatively motivated behavior. Specific areas covered by NMB: · Positively motivated behaviors; neural substrates
[e.g., signaling molecules, channels, transporters, receptors,
transmitters, neurons] involved in the mediation of drug and other types
of reward; circuits [e.g., mesolimbic, mesocortical-thalamic] important in
the mediation of reward and craving; mechanisms of tolerance, dependence,
withdrawal, and sensitization; as well as predisposing factors [genetic,
developmental, and environmental] leading to drug seeking and
relapse · Stress, fear, anxiety, aggression; critical molecules
[e.g., receptors, transmitters, hormones, transporters, channels,
signaling molecules] involved in the mediation of negatively motivated
behavior; circuits [e.g., hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, locus coereleus, prefrontal cortex]
important in the mediation of such behavior; mechanisms of habituation and
sensitization leading to altered responsiveness to stressful and aversive
stimuli; and predisposing factors [genetic, developmental, and
environmental] that may shape such behavior · Feeding, drinking, sexual and other consummatory behavior; critical
molecules [e.g., receptors, transmitters, hormones, transporters,
channels, signaling molecules] involved in the mediation of such behavior;
limbic and related circuits important in the mediation of such behavior;
mechanisms of plasticity; and predisposing factors [genetic,
developmental, and environmental] which may shape such behavior; social
behavior · Exogenous influences on neurobiological processes; causes, correlates and consequences [including neuroadaptation] of the effects of exposure to exogenous agents, neuropsychoactive drugs, or trauma at any stage across the life span that focus on analysis of the organization, structure and/or function of the mature nervous systems, rather than on fundamental processes involved in neural induction, specification or differentiation
· Neurobiological actions of psychoactive/psychotherapeutic agents; molecular and cellular mechanisms of action of psychoactive drugs on behavior; neuroanatomical circuitry mediating the behavioral effects of psychotherapeutic drugs; influence of genetic manipulations, perinatal manipulations, gender and environment on the behavioral actions of psychoactive drugs NMB has the following shared interests within the IFCN IRG: · NMB has shared interests with NNB. Applications focused primarily on the neural mechanisms of behavior are appropriate for NMB, while applications focused primarily on HPA axis and neuroimmune systems are more appropriate for NNB.
· In general, studies of nociception/pain are reviewed by SCS. SCS
should also review applications where the neural basis of motivation and
emotion is studied in the context of smell and taste function and where
specific knowledge of these systems is essential for review. · Studies of the structural and functional bases of motivational and emotional behavior are appropriate for NMB, but research on the influence of emotional and motivational processes on learning and memory should be reviewed in LAM. · With NAL regarding the interaction of alcohol and toxicants and CNS function. NAL is more appropriate when the primary focus is on alcohol or toxicant pathophysiology, but NMB should be considered if the focus is on the effects of other substances on the neural substrates of motivational behavior. NMB has the following shared interests outside the IFCN IRG: ·
With the Biobehavioral and Behavioral Processes [BBBP]
IRG: Applications with a primary research focus on
behavioral consequences rather than their neurobiological mechanisms are
more appropriate for a study section in the BBBP IRG. ·
With the Endocrinology, Metabolism, Nutrition and
Reproductive Sciences [EMNR] IRG:
Applications involving the central
nervous system with a focus on metabolic homeostasis or causes of obesity
are areas of shared interest with EMNR and could be referred to the EMNR
IRG when end points relate primarily to cellular or systemic metabolic
phenotypes or energy balance; and to NMB when the focus is on the neural
basis of ingestive
behaviors or satiety.
· With the Renal and Urological Sciences [RUS] IRG: Applications focusing on the central nervous system dealing with thirst as a motivated behavior could be assigned to NMB. Applications focusing on the central nervous system regulation of renal function could be assigned to RUS IRG. · With the Molecular, Cellular and Developmental
Neuroscience [MDCN] IRG: The MCDN IRG may be more appropriate for studies of
signal transduction and related processes that occur within the context of
a cell, with particular emphasis on cell electrophysiology, molecular
biophysics, and neurochemical pathways. NMB may be more appropriate for
studies in the context of integrated circuits, systems, and behavior.
Developmental studies directed at understanding the effects of early
experience on motivated and emotional behavior would be within the purview
of NMB. ·
With the Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience
[BDCN] IRG: There are
shared interests between the BDCN IRG and NMB in the neurobiological bases
of motivated behaviors. If an application focuses on a clinical population
or a model of a disease state, it could be assigned to the BDCN IRG. If
the application deals with understanding underlying neurobiological
processes, it could be assigned to NMB. Neuroendocrinology, Neuroimmunology and Behavior Study Section [NNB](Formerly IFCN-2)The Neuroendocrinology, Neuroimmunology and Behavior [NNB] Study Section is concerned with the neurobiological basis of behavior across the life span, with a focus on neuroendocrine, neuropeptide, and neuroimmune systems. NNB primarily considers research with non-human animals [vertebrates and invertebrates], but relevant work with humans is also included. Both normal and disordered processes are addressed. Major areas of interest include sexual behavior, including courtship, pair bonding, and parental behavior; ingestive behaviors; drugs of abuse; stress; and interactions of the brain with immune systems. Studies typically use behavioral, physiological, pharmacological, anatomical, and developmental approaches, but may also include molecular, cellular, or genetic approaches. Specific areas covered by NNB: · Reproductive behaviors and sexual differentiation;
neurobiological variables, including neuroendocrine, neurotransmitter,
genetic, and developmental factors, underlying modulation of or resulting
from reproductive behavior, including social affiliation, mate choice and
pair-bonding, courtship, sexual behavior, and parenting behaviors · Neuroendocrine regulation of feeding and drinking; hormones, neuropeptides, and neurotransmitters and their receptors regulating consummatory behaviors; anatomical and neuroendocrine efferents regulating consummatory behaviors and energy balance; effects of drugs, stressors and environmental factors on this regulatory axis · Stress; neurobiological mediators, including the
Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal [HPA] Axis, of environmental stimulation
including stressors; interaction of stress and drug effects;
neuroanatomical, genetic, metabolic, and pharmacological and hormonal
basis for such mediation; and receptors and ligands that mediate these effects; studies of
sequelae of maternal
deprivation or social isolation · Interactions between the brain and the immune system;
structural basis and mechanisms mediating functional interactions between
brain and immune systems; effects of cytokines and chemokines on the nervous system; effects of
manipulations [behavioral, neural, neuropharmacological, stress, etc.] on
immune system function; brain mechanisms of fever · Neuroendocrine interactions in drug seeking; neuroendocrine responses to or influences on the effects of psychotropic drugs and environmental factors; neuroendocrine influences on drug-taking and addiction · Plasticity; development, maturation, and aging of the neuroendocrine and immune systems that regulate brain and behavior, including the plasticity and genesis of these systems · Other areas, including: biological basis of behavioral polymorphisms, especially sexual dimorphisms and the biological factors underlying aggression, anxiety, etc. using animal models NNB has the following shared interests within the IFCN IRG: · There are shared interests between NMB and NNB in terms of the phenomena [ingestive behaviors, reproductive behavior, etc.] being investigated. Applications focused primarily on the neural mechanisms of behavior, specifically those where there is a greater focus on neuropharmacology of neurotransmitter systems and/or on elucidating neuroanatomical pathways, are more appropriate for NMB. Applications focused primarily on neuroendocrine and neuroimmune systems are more appropriate for NNB. · Studies of neuroendocrinological basis of circadian and circannual rhythms in behavior may be reviewed in BRS. Studies of neuroimmunological factors in sleep regulation and of homeostatic temperature regulation could also be reviewed in BRS, whereas studies of neural mechanisms of fever production, such as in infection, are typically reviewed in NNB.
· Studies of the effect of neurohormones on neurobiological events
related to learning and memory are reviewed in LAM. · With NAL with respect to the interaction of alcohol and CNS function. NAL is more appropriate when the primary focus is on alcohol or toxicant pathophysiology, but NNB should be considered if neuroendocrine interactions are involved. NNB has the following shared interests outside the IFCN IRG: · With the Biobehavioral and Behavioral Processes [BBBP]
IRG:
There is shared interest with the BBBP IRG in the areas of feeding,
drinking and other ingestive behaviors, social affiliation,
communication, sexual behavior, courtship, parenting, stress, and
aggression. Studies in which the primary research focus is behavioral are
more appropriate for a BBBP study section, while such studies in the
context of neurobiology are more appropriate for NNB. ·
With the Immunology [IMM] IRG: Neuroimmunology, including studies of inflammation and innate
immunity in the nervous system, is an area of shared interest. Studies of
neuroendocrine alteration
of the immune response are also a shared area. Applications
focusing on nerve function may be assigned to IFCN. Applications
focusing on immune function or altered immune function may be assigned to
IMM. ·
With the Cardiovascular Sciences [CVS]
IRG: Studies of neural and humoral control of cardiac or circulatory
function, including neuropeptide control of blood pressure or
cardiac response to physiological stress, may be assigned to the CVS
IRG.
Applications concerned with the neurobiological basis of behavior
with a focus on the role of the neuroendocrine, neuropeptide, and neuroimmune systems in stress, maybe assigned
to the NNB Study Section.
·
With the Endocrinology, Metabolism, Nutrition and
Reproductive Sciences [EMNR] IRG: NNB has shared interests with the EMNR IRG in the
area of neuroendocrinology.
NNB generally should be considered when the focus is neural systems and
processes underlying behavior, such as sexual behavior, mate choice,
aggression, etc. NNB should also be considered for applications dealing
with the HPA axis and stress. Studies involving neuroendocrine structures
[pituitary, adrenal, hypothalamus] where the focus is primarily on
the synthesis, release, and regulation of hormones of the HPA, HPT, or HPG
axes, such as studies of LH surge or control of ACTH secretion, should be
reviewed in the EMNR IRG. ·
With the Renal and Urological Sciences [RUS]
IRG: Applications focusing on the central nervous system
dealing with the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying thirst could be
assigned to NNB. Applications focusing on the central nervous system
regulation of renal function could be assigned to RUS IRG.
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