I. 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.

II. 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 of stressful and aversive stimuli; and predisposing factors (genetic, developmental, and environmental) that may shape such behavior.

III. Feeding, Drinking, Sexual and Other Consummatory Behavior. Critical molecules (e.g., receptors, transmitters, hormones, transporters, channels, signaling molecules) involved in the mediation of consummatory 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.

IV. Exogenous Influences on Neurobiological Processes. Neurodevelopmental causes, correlates and consequences of the effects of exposure to exogenous agents, disease or trauma during development that focus on analysis of the organization, structure and/or function of the mature nervous systems and related neurobehavioral consequences, rather than on fundamental processes involved in neural induction, specification or differentiation. Studies of enrichment and positive as well as negative consequences are included.

CN-2 (Cognitive Neuroscience 2). Studies of the structural and functional bases of motivational and emotional behavior are more appropriate for IFN-1. Studies of the influence of emotional and motivational processes on cognition should be reviewed in CN-2.

CMN-3 and -4 (Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience 3 and 4). CMN-3 and -4 focus on cellular mechanisms while IFN-1 emphasizes the role of molecules as expressed in integrated circuits and behavior.

DN (Developmental Neuroscience). Developmental studies directed at understanding the effects of early experience on motivated and emotional behavior would be within the purview of the IFN-1 .

IFN-4 (Integrative and Functional Neuroscience 4). In general, studies of nociception/pain go to IFN-4.

Areas of technical competence of this committee include: electrophysiology, neurobehavioral teratology, neuroanatomy, neurobehavioral genetics, neuropsychopharmacology, neuroethology, neuropsychology, neuropharmacology, molecular and cellular biology, neuroendocrinology, Neurochemistry, animal models and neuroimaging.

This study section is concerned with the regulation of brain and behavior across the life span by neuroendocrine and neuroimmune systems. Techniques of behavior, cellular and molecular biology, neuropharmacology, electrophysiology, anatomy, imaging, genetics, biochemistry, (levels of analysis from the organismal to genetic). Mechanisms include: cyclic secretions, transport across blood-brain-barrier (BBB), and hormonal influences over genetics and homeostatic processes. Preclinical analysis of basic mechanisms underlying pathogenesis of neuroendocrine and neuroimmune systems are considered. This includes plasticity, development and aging in neuroendocrine and neuroimmune systems in both normo- and pathophysiology. Brain mechanisms underlying environmental and social influences on the endocrine and immune systems are also of interest.

I. Reproductive Behaviors and Sexual Differentiation. Genetic, developmental, behavioral and hormonal modulation of reproductive and parenting behaviors. Includes social affiliation, aggression, sexual behavior and courtship.

II. Hypothalamic-Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) Axis-Stress. Neurobiological mediators of environmental stimulation including stressors. Neuroanatomical, genetic, and hormonal basis for such mediation.

III. Neuromodulatory processes. Transport across the blood brain barrier, cyclic secretion, seasonal cycles, hormone/gene interactions.

IV. Interactions between brain and immune system.

V. Motivation including regulation of feeding and drinking behavior.

VI. Plasticity, aging, neurogenesis in the above systems.

BDCN (Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience). Overlap on basic mechanisms of neurotoxicity and neuropathology at the systems level.

CMN-2 (Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience 2). Overlap exists in that both study sections address interactions between the nervous and immune systems.

DN (Developmental Neuroscience). Overlap on developmental mechanisms at the cellular and molecular level gene expression. This committee would handle environment gene interactions.

IFN-1 (Integrative and Functional Neuroscience 1). Overlap exists between these two study section.

IFN-3 (Integrative and Functional Neuroscience 3). Overlap exists between these two study sections.

Areas of technical competence of this committee include: molecular and cellular biology, neuropharmacology, biochemistry, electrophysiology, neuroimaging, neuroanatomy, behavioral analysis, stress (e.g., metabolic, environmental deprivation), neuroimmunology, neuroendocrinology, and hormones and behavior.

This study section reviews applications in a number of areas of integrative, regulatory and behavioral neuroscience. These include behavioral states, such as wakefulness, sleep, hibernation and variations in arousal level; biological rhythms, including temporal cycles such as ultradian, circadian, infradian and circannual rhythms; and regulatory mechanisms underlying homeostasis, including thermoregulation and other functions of the autonomic nervous system. Applications on the relationship of drug introduction, use, and withdrawal on homeostasis are reviewed here. Levels of analysis include genetic/molecular studies, cellular and circuit studies, oscillatory mechanisms, neurobehavioral and neuropharmacological investigations on the whole organism. Areas including genetic mapping, molecular biology, immunocytochemistry, track tracing, cell and organ culture, transplantation, neurochemistry, electrophysiology, polysomnography, use of altered temporal, photic or living environments, sleep deprivation, ligand assays, time series analysis, mathematical modeling, neuroimaging, neurobehavioral and neurocognitive testing are within the purview of the study section. Emphasis is on integrative studies of mechanisms, functions or neurobehavioral manifestations, including studies of single cells, development of animal models. Clinical studies of sleep disorders where the emphasis is on underlying neural processes are reviewed here. Also included are applied studies of shift work and other disturbances of circadian rhythmicity, and interactions with other systems such as the immune and endocrine systems.

I. Circadian rhythms. Pacemaker mechanisms and properties; neuroanatomic pathways and mechanisms of entrainment and phase shifts; pacemaker output pathways, mechanisms and consequences; feedback effects; pharmacologic, physiologic and endocrine interactions; pathophysiology and treatment of circadian disorders; circadian variation in drug efficacy and toxicity; development and manifestation of circadian processes over the life span; and circadian variations in disease processes and the immune system.

II. Oscillatory mechanisms. Cellular and circuit analysis of oscillatory systems, such as thalamocortical rhythmicity.

III. Pulsatile hormone secretion. Mechanisms and functions of pulsatile neurosecretion; identification of neural pulse generators.

IV. Reproductive and circannual rhythms, including hibernation:

V. Arousal level, attention and wakefulness. Neural mechanisms underlying arousal level, attention and wakefulness; neurobehavioral and cognitive performance and processing.

VI. Sleep. Molecular and cellular studies to the extent the underlying focus is on integrative mechanisms; neuroanatomic and organismal studies of the neural processes which generate sleep and dreams; development and manifestation of these processes over the life span; animal models; sleep deprivation; interaction of sleep and circadian rhythmicity; interaction of the endocrine system and sleep; neuroimaging; electrophysiology and polysomnography; homeostatic sleep regulation; sleep and the immune system.

VII. Regulatory mechanisms. Underlying homeostasis, including thermoregulation and other functions of the autonomic nervous and immune systems.

Behavior Study Sections. Behavioral, cognitive and emotional studies without a neural focus are assigned to behavioral study section.

BCN (Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience). These study sections should review applications that have their primary focus on the mechanisms underlying integrative, regulatory and behavioral neuroscience. Studies dealing with basic homeostatic control of sleep and circadian or biological systems, and other integrative functions of the autonomic nervous system should be reviewed in this study section. Studies dealing with epidemiology, clinical or patient orientated studies of sleep disorders and treatment where the focus is on the disorder and not neural processes should be reviewed by the Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience Study Sections.

CMN-3 and -4 (Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience 3 and 4). CMN-3 and -4 focus on cellular mechanisms while IFN-3 considers molecules from the perspective of integrating circuits and systems.

IFN-5 (Integrative and Functional Neuroscience 5). IFN-3 is concerned with afferent (e.g., nociceptive, visceral, mechanoreceptive) control of autonomic motor systems, while IFN-5 focuses on the sensory function of such inputs.

Areas of technical competence of this committee include: cellular and molecular biology, circadian biology, systems physiology, electrophysiology, sleep neurophysiology, neuroendocrine systems and behavior, neuroanatomy and neuroimaging, immunochemistry, neuropharmacology, neuropsychology, animal models, mathematical models, and genetics.

This study section reviews applications on structure and function of sensory and perceptual systems, including pain, and somatosensation. Techniques of anatomy (tract tracing, immunocytochemistry, light and electron microscopy, gene expression, etc.), neurophysiology, imaging (fMRI, SPECT, PET, optical imaging), pharmacology, neurobehavior, and psychophysics are within the competency of this committee. Emphasis is on integrative systems approaches to understanding sensory function, dysfunction and recovery from injury, perceptual and sensory perturbations, drug and otherwise induced.

I. Pain and Analgesia. Anatomy, physiology of nociceptive pathways, imaging, pharmacology, critical molecules (e.g., receptors, neurotransmitters, transporters, channels, signaling molecules, growth factors), model systems, transduction, plasticity, (genetics), development, psychophysiology, experimental therapeutics, sensitization, modulation, induction of gene expression, neurogenic inflammation, response to tissue and nerve injury, growth factors, cytokines, sympathetic nervous system, and neuropathies. Mediation and modulation of nociception; critical circuits (spinal and supraspinal) important in the mediation of pain responsiveness and analgesia; mechanisms of tolerance and sensitization to repeated noxious stimuli; and predisposing factors (genetic, developmental, environmental) that may shape nociception and antinociception.

II. Sensory. Somatosensation, audition, olfaction, taste, and vision. Anatomy, physiology, neurobehavior, transduction, model systems, transmitters/receptors, plasticity (adaptive and maladaptive) neurophysiology, peripheral afferents, sensory receptors, pharmacology, psychophysics, transduction, modulation, and sensory discrimination.

BDCN (Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience). There is overlap in the areas of sensory system injury, sensory neuropathy, and disorders that affect sensory systems. In general, applications reviewed by the Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience Study Sections focus on diseases and pathological processes, while those reviewed by IFN-4 focus on sensory systems per se.

CMN-1. (Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience 1) considers the fundamental mechanisms of neuroplasticity.

CMN-3 and -4 (Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience 3 and 4). Signal transduction of sensory information should be reviewed in IFN-4 and -5 while applications addressing fundamental mechanisms of signal transduction should be reviewed in CMN-3 and -4 .

CN-2 (Cognitive Neuroscience-2). Studies with the intent to elucidate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying cognition are appropriate for CN-2. Thalamic, subthalamic, and cerebellar mechanisms of sensory and motor functions are more appropriate for IFN-4. Cortical sensory/motor mechanisms are more appropriate for CN-2.

DN-2 (Developmental Neuroscience 2). DN-2 reviews applications where a sensory system is being used as a model to study principles of nervous system development, as contrasted with a focus on the sensory system itself in which case IFN-4 would be more appropriate.

IFN-3 (Integrative and Functional Neuroscience 3). IFN-3 is concerned with afferent (e.g., nociceptive, visceral, mechanoreceptive) control of autonomic motor systems, while IFN-4 focuses on the sensory function of such input.

IFN-5 (Integrative and Functional Neuroscience 5). IFN-4 is concerned with the role of sensory inputs in sensation and perception, IFN-5 looks at their roles in motor control.

Areas of technical competence of this committee include: electrophysiology, neuroanatomy, neuroimaging, neurobehavioral genetics, neuropsychology (psychophysics), neuropharmacology, neurochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, neurobehavioral pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, animal models and neuroendocrinology.

This study section reviews applications on structure and function of sensory-motor and motor systems. Techniques of anatomy (tract tracing, immunocytochemistry, light and electron microscopy, gene expression, etc.), neurophysiology, imaging (fMRI, SPECT, PET, optical imaging), pharmacology, neurobehavior, and psychophysics are within the competency of this committee. Emphasis is on integrative systems approaches to understanding sensory-motor or motor function, dysfunction and recovery from injury.

I. Motor Systems. Anatomy, physiology, transmitters/receptors, imaging, model systems, neurobehavior, pharmacology, transduction, plasticity (adaptive and maladaptive), development (systems), locomotor pattern generators, proprioception, neurophysiology, motor control, pyramidal and extrapyramidal systems, basal ganglia, movement disorders, and computational models of motor systems.

II. Sensory-Motor Integration. Anatomy, physiology, transmitters/receptors, imaging, model systems, neurobehavior, pharmacology, transduction, plasticity (adaptive and maladaptive), and development (systems). Sensorimotor integration and spinal reflexes, their neural basis and behavioral control systems.

BDCN-1, -2, -3, and -5 (Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience 1, 2, 3, and 5). In general, applications reviewed by the Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience Study Sections focus on diseases and pathological processes, while those reviewed by IFN-5 focus on motor systems per se.

CMN-1, -3, and -4 (Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience 1, 3, and 4). Overlap exists for applications concerned with synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction. Basic studies of synaptic structure and function using the neuromuscular junction as a model should be reviewed in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience Study Sections.

CN-2 (Cognitive Neuroscience-2). Studies with the intent to elucidate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying cognition are appropriate for CN-2. Thalamic, subthalamic, and cerebellar mechanisms of sensory and motor functions are more appropriate for this study section. Cortical sensory/motor mechanisms are more appropriate for CN-2.

DN-2 (Developmental Neuroscience 2). DN-2 reviews applications where a motor system is being used as a model to study principles of nervous system development, as contrasted to those applications in which focus on the motor system itself, in which case IFN-5 would be more appropriate.

IFN-4 (Integrative and Functional Neuroscience 5). IFN-4 is concerned with the role of sensory inputs in sensation and perception, IFN-5 looks at their roles in motor control.

Areas of technical competence of this committee include: electrophysiology, neuroanatomy, neurobehavioral genetics, neuropharmacology, neuropsychology, neuropharmacology, neurochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, neurobehavioral pharmacology, neuroimaging, animal models, and theoretical models.

DRAFT VERSION FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

Last update: May 30, 1997