Neuroethology A Meeting of Brain and Behavior

often less complex nervous systems to learn general Introduction principles. At the same time, the difficulties with such On August 23–28, 1998, a diverse group of approximately animals can be substantial: the anatomy, physiology, 600 people interested in animal behavior and the nerand genetics are usually incompletely described comvous system gathered on the campus of the University pared with more “standard” laboratory animals such as of California at San Diego, in La Jolla, California, for the mice and rats, and obtaining and breeding them is often Fifth Congress of the International Society for Neurochallenging. As we highlight in this review, however, a ethology. Continuing the spirit of previous congresses careful analysis of natural behavior afforded in these held in Tokyo (1987), Berlin (1989), Montreal (1992), and “specialist” species can help to define the problems Cambridge (1995), local organizer Bill Kristan and other that more generalized brains need to solve, and can members of the planning committee, headed by Joatherefore serve as a strong guide for focusing cellularchim Pflueger, combined plenary sessions, symposia, level questions of broad interest. poster sessions, and social events, creating a program Neuroethology has historically emphasized a comparthat encouraged lively and informal discussions. New ative approach to understanding brain function, and the forums for scientific exchange included a Young Investistrength of this strategy was readily apparent from many gator Award symposium, which allowed this year’s four of the presentations at the meeting. In addition, the awardees to present their work to the entire congress, emergence of new technologies, especially techniques and informal ad hoc talks, a refreshing venue for matefor chronic recording and imaging in relatively intact rial too current to have been included by the abstract nervous systems, are enabling researchers to underdeadline. stand the neural basis of behavior under natural condiWhat exactly is neuroethology? The field emerged out tions, which to many neuroethologists is a long-term of traditional ethology, or the study of animal behavior goal. (usually in the animal’s natural environment), which was The subject diversity of the meeting was enormous: championed by the likes of Lorenz, Tinbergen, and von what other meeting can boast a talk on in vivo imaging of Frisch. Neuroethology evolved when ethologists, in coldendritic calcium dynamics followed by one on elephant laborations with physiologists and anatomists, delved pheromones? In an attempt to convey the range of subinto the neural bases of the behaviors they were studyjects discussed at the meeting and to capture the exciteing. Assuming that a good working definition of a modment of recent developments in neuroethology, we disern neuroethologist includes anyone who attended the cuss several presentations, broadly organized by some recent meeting, the definition has expanded to encomgeneral themes that emerged: sensitive periods and cirpass all those interested in understanding the link becuits for learning, synaptic plasticity in the adult CNS, tween brain and behavior, including those taking more and the reciprocal relationship between genes and sotraditional top-down approaches (i.e., study a natural cial behavior. Furthermore, we highlight results obtained behavior in detail and then try to uncover its neural using novel tools, both man-made (multi-electrode reunderpinnings) and those taking more bottom-up apcording arrays) and biological (cone snail toxins). Finally, proaches (identify an interesting neural phenomenon in we cover two special symposia, one honoring the Socia reduced preparation and then try to understand how ety’s Young Investigators and one in memory of Walter it contributes to behavior). Heiligenberg. In an effort to link neural events with behavior, neuro-