Modification of excitatory synaptic transmission plays a fundamentally important role in all forms of developmental and experience-dependent plasticity including learning and memory. This conference will review and discuss the latest findings on excitatory synapse development, structure, function and plasticity. Specific topics to be covered include molecular mechanisms of synapse formation and maturation, molecular mechanisms of neurotransmitter release, structural aspects of receptor function, cell biology of receptor trafficking, dendritic spine structure and function and synaptic plasticity. New topics will include neuron-glia interactions, excitatory synapse dysfunction during disease and novel technologies that have the potential of revolutionizing the study of excitatory synapses at the molecular, cellular and systems levels. Leading senior and junior investigators will present and there will be many opportunities for informal and formal discussions, including poster sessions. To insure that the latest and most exciting results are presented, several (3-6) speakers will be selected from the submitted abstracts.

Program Committee: R.Malenka, G. Westbrook, C. Mulle, M. Sheng, R. Huganir