2026 Frontal Cortex Gordon Research Conference - PROJECT SUMMARY The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is essential for all aspects of affect, cognition, and behavior and has established roles in all forms of mental illness, aging, development, and substance use disorders. The PFC has been studied intensely over the past four decades, although it has only been relatively recently that scientists have been able to routinely monitor neural activity in such a way as to be able to decode ongoing cognitive processes and affective responses. This highlights that PFC research is at a new and exciting point in time. With this new frontier in PFC research, a new Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on the Frontal Cortex was established in 2022 to provide a forum for researchers interested in the PFC to quickly exchange ideas. This meeting brings together researchers studying humans as well as different animal models (non-human primates, rats, mice) and a variety of experimental approaches (e.g., lesions, pharmacology, anatomy, physiology, molecular tools, computational models). The meeting has been highly successful at developing a strong community of scientists interested in discussing topics across disciplines, concepts, models, and techniques. The next GRC will convene in Holderness, NH in August 2026. It is our hope that financial support can be obtained from NIDA and NIA to build upon our successes and support the meeting. This support will allow us to offset the attendance costs of our invited speakers and trainees, especially early career investigators. We propose the following Aims: (1) To convene a multidisciplinary scientific workforce around fundamental questions in cross-topic, cross-species frontal cortex research. The conference will feature panels on aging, development, circuit function, therapeutics, affect, cognitive control, and more, in keeping with the goal of connecting disparate scientific fields whose interaction could lead to exciting research and novel therapeutic approaches. (2) To unite a multidisciplinary scientific workforce around powerful, emerging technologies in frontal cortex research. Sessions will discuss the use of powerful tools such as optogenetics, chemogenetics, calcium imaging, computational modeling, and more, and how they can be used to link studies in animal models such as mice and rats to findings from work in humans and non-human primates. (3) To promote the development of early-career researchers in frontal cortex research. In the service of this goal, we will support participation from trainees and early-career investigators, including providing financial support for attendance, and we will have the discussion leader of the last session focus on facilitating meaningful conversations among GRC attendees across all career stages to discuss barriers to career advancement and/or strategies that support professional development.
