Guy Berwick
University of Aberdeen, UK

Rade Durbaba
Northumbria University, UK

https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.97.17

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something… Else

4–5 September 2014, University of Durham, UK

The weather was kind to the 52 delegates who gathered to recognise Dr Robert Banks’s >40 year career investigating mechanical sensation. Speakers from Canada, Australia, USA, Europe and the UK jumped at the chance to participate, providing a marvellous blend of reminiscence, review, and cutting-edge sensory neuroscience in an extremely convivial atmosphere. All speakers had scientific connections with Bob, mostly as collaborators, and with the attendees made for a veritable‘Who’s Who’ of muscle spindle research over the last half-century. Talks ranged from higher motor control, through proprioception and into cellular aspects of mechanosensory function, encompassing humans, other mammals, invertebrates and systems biology.

The research focus throughout both days was Bob’s career in muscle spindle physiology and relating this to mechanoreception as a whole, with talks from PhD students to Professors Emeritus. First day highlights included a timely reminder of how proprioceptive physiology and anatomy relate to clinical need and rehabilitation (Something Old), plus the latest research into channel distributions responsible for repetitive firing of motoneurones and muscle spindle afferents, and potential damage by chemotherapy (Something New). There was also a group photograph.

The enjoyable day was rounded off perfectly by the symposium meal of excellent Aberdeen Angus steak in the converted chapel of St Hild and St Bede – truly an atmospheric, gastronomic and social success.

For the second day, highlights included the burgeoning evidence for synaptic-like vesicles (Something Borrowed) as part of a system for autogenic regulation of stretch-evoked firing via an atypical glutamate receptor that eludes any canonical pharmacological profile, plus emerging indications that general sensory physiology principles may apply across tissues, phyla and even sensory systems (Something Else…). Every talk was followed by lively discussion, which continued into breaks around the posters displayed throughout the meeting. In this regard, an attendee of particular note was Professor Peter Matthews, the ‘elder statesman’ of muscle spindle physiology, who came out of retirement to attend in recognition of Bob’s unique contribution to this area. His scientific enthusiasm clearly undiminished, Prof Matthews energetically and regularly contributed insightful comments and questions throughout the two days. Many old friendships were renewed and new friendships forged while celebrating Bob’s extensive career as a long-time Society member and recognising the substantial advances he and colleagues have made together.

We are indebted to The Physiological Society for designating this as a Special Symposium, with associated financial support. We would also like to thank the University of Durham Biophysical Sciences Institute, Cambridge Electronic Design and World Precision Instruments for their kind sponsorship of the event. Photographs were provided by Tom Banks (Bob’s photographer son).