2012-09-21

[DIV28SUPER] WINTER CONFERENCE on ANIMAL LEARNING & BEHAVIOR (WCALB) 2013

The focus this year is Psychopharmacology

 

 

The Winter Conference on Animal Learning and Behavior
 (http://www.american.edu/cas/psychology/wcalb/index.cfm) will convene in Winter Park, Colorado
 from Saturday evening, February 2, with departure Wednesday morning , February 6, 2013.  If you
 are interested in attending WCALB 2013, please send your small refundable deposit by October
 25, 2012 so we know how many condominiums to reserve.  See instructions under "DEPOSITS" 
section below.

 

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

 

Behavioral Dependence

 

Patrick M. Beardsley

Virginia Commonwealth University

&

Jack Bergman

Harvard Medical School

 

 

Abstract-- Pharmacological state (or context) and history can direct the expression of learned behavior (e.g., state dependent learning, drug discrimination).  Additionally, abrupt drug abstinence can control the expression of learned behavior, a phenomenon that can be defined as behavioral dependence.  In this presentation, examples of behavioral dependence will be described and contrasted with physical dependence.  In addition, the potential ramifications of behavioral dependence, as well as the implications for regulatory control of drugs, will be considered.

 

 

Patrick Beardsley is a behavioral pharmacologist whose research interests focus upon the development of medications for CNS disorders.  He obtained his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology at the University of Minnesota in 1982, and currently is Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology and member of the Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies and the Center for Biomarker Research and Personalized Medicine at the Virginia Commonwealth University.

 

Jack Bergman is a CNS pharmacologist with interests in the pharmacological and contextual determinants of drug abuse and drug
 dependence.  He obtained his Ph.D. in Pharmacological and Physiological Sciences at the University of Chicago in 1981 and, currently,
 is the director of the Preclinical Pharmacology laboratory in the Mailman Research Institute at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School.

 

FOCUS SESSION

 

Pharmacological History and the Control and Expression of Learning and Behavior

 

This Focus Session related to the Keynote Address is being organized.  The format will be up to 25-minute presentations followed by discussion among participants.  Let me (sweiss@american.edu) know if you would like to join that session.

 

Recent WCALB Focus sessions have been concerned with:

 

Theory of Mind:  Current Status of the Controversy (2012)

Bi-directional Links Between Obesity & Learning & Memory Dysfunction (2011)

Rational Rats:  Causal Inference and Reality Monitoring (2010)

Economic Demand, Reinforcer Essential Value and Drug Addiction (2009)

Remembering and Anticipating Events in Time (2008)

Modeling Data: From Description & Significance to Behavior & Theories (2007)

The Question of Animal Consciousness and Cognition (2006)

Choice in Humans and other Animals (2005)

Associative Mechanisms and Drug-Related Behavior (2004)

Learning, Choice and Context Effects (2003).

 

The 2004 & 2010 Focus Sessions were published as Special Issues of the International Journal of Comparative Psychology.

 

MEETING, WINTER PARK AND ACCOMMODATIONS

 

The Winter Conference is a friendly and informal meeting that provides an opportunity to combine intensive, scientifically rigorous discussions on a variety of topics related to animal conditioning, behavior and learning with skiing at one of Colorado's premier ski areas, Winter Park.  The breadth of WCALB paper sessions that reflect the research interests of participants can be seen in recent programs posted on the website.  All participants are invited to make a presentation and suggest topics.  Graduate students are welcome, and can make a presentation with the written recommendation of their advisor.

 

There is downhill skiing for all skill levels, up to black diamond, as well as exciting cross-country skiing in the Arapaho National Forest, Devil's Thumb and Snow Mountain Ranch.  The majestic snow-covered Rockies in winter are breathtaking.

 

The all inclusive cost for registration, four nights in a shared Snowblaze condominium, an opening buffet reception, snacks during sessions and a dinner at a fine restaurant in Winter Park is only $365 per person or $730 per couple (couples have their own room, usually with private bath, in a condo).  The Snowblaze is located in Winter Park near restaurants and shops.  It has an excellent health club with sauna, steam room, hot tub, pool, weight room and handball courts.  All units have complete kitchens.

 

A family can have an entire 2-bedroom condominium unit for $1,095 plus $110 for each person over three. The 2-bedroom units each sleep up to six people if a convertible sofa in the living room is used.  All family members are invited to the opening buffet reception, Conference dinner and sessions.

 

DEPOSITS

 

We will be in the Colorado Rockies just a week before the prime ski season starts.  Therefore, condominiums need to be reserved early.  If you think you would like to attend WCALB 2013, please let me (sweiss@american.edu) know ASAP by e-mail and send your refundable (until November 30) deposit ($50 per person, $100 per couple, $200 per family) by October 25, 2012.

 

Make deposit checks out to Stanley Weiss, WCALB with “WCALB 2013" in the lower left corner.  Final payment is due November 30, 2012, when receipts will be sent.  Until that date, your deposit can be refunded if conditions develop that prevent you from attending the Conference.  But timely deposits are very important for appropriate planning and to ensure we reserve enough condominiums.  

 

Please send your deposits to:

 

Stan Weiss, Convener

Winter Conference on Animal Learning & Behavior

Department of Psychology

American University

Washington, DC 20016

 

Accommodations at the indicated rates cannot be guaranteed once the reserved condo units are filled.  We will do our best to include late registrants in the Conference, but often they have had to pay substantially more for their accommodations because they couldn't be housed in a reserved condominium.  Therefore, if you are interested in attending the Conference let me know soon and send your refundable (until November 30) deposit by October 25, 2012.  A CALL for presentations will go out to registered participants by mid December.  If you have any questions or suggestions, contact me at sweiss@american.edu.

 

Hope to see you in Winter Park!

 

Stan

 

 

WCALB 2013 Organizing and Program Committee

Stan Weiss (Convener) <sweiss@american.edu>

Rick Bevins <rbevins1@unl.edu>

Cody Brooks <brooksc@denison.edu>

Mark Reilly <reill1mp@cmich.edu>

 

 

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