Pioneers in social behavior research speak to a packed room

The Measuring Social Behavior: Scientific Challenges, test Paradigms, and Tools symposium (during Neuroscience 2009) was an overwhelming success.  It brought together some of the pioneers in social behavior research. The panel was led by Dr. Pawel Boguszewski (Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Poland) and also featured Dr. Robert Blanchard, Dr. Marcel van Gaalen, and Professor Stephen M Siviy. Together, they provided a multifaceted discussion of the current state of studying social behavior.

Missed it? Or want to re-experience the symposium? Watch the video’s and presentations here!

The talks of the four renowned speakers were diverse and covered quite a full spectrum related to social behavior. There were two major themes, the first being the highly detailed behavioral assessment versus high throughput behavioral assessment. The second concerned the variability of test paradigms and how they can affect behavior. Subjects of the talks were: approaches and techniques to analyze social behavior, challenges in drug discovery studies, effect of an anxious encounter on rat play behavior, and the sense of an ethoexperimental approach. Many fascinating questions were posed to the panel as whole, which allowed them to comment on the positives and negatives associated with the different approaches that were discussed.

It was the fifth year in the row that Noldus hosted a satellite symposium during Neuroscience. And with great success: it was fully booked through preregistration. Even during the conference itself, many people showed up at the Noldus booth hoping to register and get a seat.  As a result, the room was packed and everyone enjoyed some of the drinks and bites that were available. Judging from the audience and the lively interactive plenary discussion, the symposium was much appreciated.