https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.127.36

Caitlin Oates
Events and Marketing Manager, The Physiological Society

“Processing and Modulation of Sensory Signals: From the Periphery to the Cortex” was designed to help foster new connections and cross-pollinate ideas between researchers studying sensory systems in different modalities and at different levels.

Originally due to take place back in June 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced a postponement to March 2021. Fast forward to early 2021 and the first Omicron wave, March 2021 became June 2022.

As we approached June 2022, things were on track and we were excited about providing sensory signals researchers the opportunity to reconnect face to face again. However, strike action on the rail network and tube lines was announced and the meeting was affected for a third time.

After much discussion, the difficult decision was made to move the conference online and the conference finally took place on 20 – 21 June 2022.

Whilst it was disappointing not to meet in person, the conference provided attendees with an excellent line up of speakers, covering various sensory systems in sessions that included peripheral and brainstem processing, thalamic and cortical processing, sensation, location and action and modulation of the senses. The keynote lecture was delivered by Dr Kathleen Cullen, Professor of biomedical engineering at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, US exploring vestibular processing during natural self-motion, and researchers from various institutions were able to showcase their research in our two flash talk sessions.

We would like to offer our thanks to the scientific organisers (Dr Jamie Johnston, Professor Jennifer Linden and Professor Susan Deuchars) for their efforts, determination and persistence to ensure this conference came to fruition and the invited speakers and attendees for their understanding and continued enthusiasm to participate.

Dr Maarten Frans Zwart, an invited speaker, and Hodan Ibrahim, a flash talk presenter, share their thoughts.

Dr Maarten Frans Zwart, University of St Andrews, UK

“The Processing and Modulation of Sensory Signals conference was a very enjoyable two days of talks covering a wide range of topics. While the emphasis was on experimental work in rodents, there were plenty of excursions into other model systems and theoretical approaches. Especially welcome to me was the combination of regular talks and shorter “Flash Talks”, which meant researchers at all career stages had the opportunity to present their work. While the online format meant there were no social events, the lively discussions following talks went some way to compensating for this. The savings in carbon emissions also helped me to appreciate the online format even more! I was grateful for the opportunity to present our work to such a distinguished audience, and I thank The Physiological Society for supporting this excellent, well-run conference.”

Hodan Ibrahim, University of Central Lancashire, UK

“Attending the virtual Processing and Modulation of Sensory Signals: From the Periphery to the Cortex meeting was a great opportunity to listen to and interact with researchers from across the world. I think the organisers did a great job of adapting the conference to an online meeting at such short notice.”