Sensory Systems: Physiology and Behaviour (supported by The Physiological Society)

Animals react to stimuli in their environment using different sensory systems that modulate behavioural and physiological responses. Recently, the neural and endocrine pathways between the original stimulus and the appropriate response, and how the various stimuli are integrated and evaluated, have received growing attention. The aim of the proposed session is to bring sensory physiologists together with those that study the various physiological and behavioural responses to address contemporary topics in sensory biology. Contributions from those working with model organisms, vertebrate and invertebrate alike, and the diverse range of responses to different environmental cues shall be presented. Essentially, this session aims to understand how animals make sense of their environment and react accordingly.

Invited speakers include: Weiming Li (Michigan State University USA), Maria Luisa Vasconcelos (Instituto Gulbenkian da Ciência, Portugal), Katie Gilmour (University of Ottawa), Vincent Janik (University of St Andrews), Julian Partridge (Bristol University), Brian Wisenden (Minnesota State University Moorhead)

Contacts: lsneddon@liverpool.ac.uk phubbard@ualg.pt