Global COE Study Abroad Project
Masatoshi Nagata（Integrated Biology Laboratories / Kokoro-Biology Group）
| Date | 2009.10.15-23 |
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| Purpose | To participate in Neuroscience 2009 and postre presentation |
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Report
(Title) Report of attendance and poster presentation at the 39th annual meeting of Society for Neuroscience
(Name) Masatoshi Nagata
(Name of laboratory) Yagi laboratory
(Destination) McCormick Place convention center, Chicago, USA
(Purpose) To collect information and give a poster presentation at the Neuroscience 2009
(Schedule)
10/15 Itami → Narita → O'Hare (USA)
10/16 Satellite symposium, Molecular and Cellular Cognition Society
10/17-21 Neuroscience 2009 (10/17 Poster presentation)
10/22-23 O'Hare (USA) → Los Angeles (USA) → Narita → Itami
(Result)
This was the first time to make a presentation at an academic meeting abroad. The annual meeting of Society for Neuroscience is one of the largest conferences in the neuroscience field.
On the previous day of the meeting, I attended a satellite symposium; Molecular and Cellular Cognition Society. Since the speakers of this symposium were famous or up-and-coming researchers, talks were very interesting. I discussed one of the speakers who was the first author of a paper I had read recently.
My poster presentation was on the first day. I presented my work titled "Sequential timing control of complex stepping in mice" in the Neural Mechanisms of Sequence and Timing Behavior session. To understand how timed action sequences of rhythmic behaviors are acquired and performed, I analyzed the performance of complex stepping in mice using a special running wheel. The wheel can control the speed and patterns of stepping by ladder-like arrangement of pegs serving as footholds for mice. In order to understand how the mouse runs and how the stepping is being shaped in this task, I used a paw-touch sensor which enables us to precisely detect the timing of paw-touches to pegs.
As soon as putting up my poster, some people came to see. Some of the questions were sharp and insightful, but it was suggestive for me. Four hours presentation time passed quickly because more people came to see than I had expected. In this poster session I met a coworker of my research, Ann Graybiel, a professor in MIT. She encouraged me to keep up the good work. Also I met lab members of Graybiel lab at a dinner party on the following day. It was precious time to talk with them.
Through this meeting I was able to collect many kinds of valuable information. Above all, my motivation was raised. I really feel that it was an excellent opportunity for me to attend Neuroscience 2009. I thank everyone who helped me attending this meeting and greatly appreciate all GCOE support.
