Brain and Behavior Discussion Group
Unlocking the secrets of the human brain


"The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation is very proud and pleased to be a partner of the New York Academy of Sciences. This historic organization serves an important purpose, bringing scientists together to catalyze thought and help move research forward. Our joint conference programs have been highly successful in every way, including planning, execution, logistics, and timely publication."
— Howard Fillit, MD
Executive Director, Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation

"At Janssen we are committed to scientific collaboration, and our work with the Academy on symposia and other events has served to connect leading neuroscientists, generate interest in evolving science, and move forward innovative thinking."
—Husseini K. Manji, MD, RFCPC
Global Head, Neuroscience Therapeutic Area, Janssen Research & Development, LLC
As the command center for the human nervous system, the 3.3-lb human brain is the organ that makes us human. It grants us the capacity for language, rational thought, and decision-making, and is the source of personality, movement, memory, and our perceptions of the world. But making sense of the brain’s staggering complexity isn’t easy.
Brain imaging and discoveries in genetics have revolutionized how many neurological conditions are diagnosed. Surgical interventions, such as deep brain stimulation, have proven incredibly effective for people with Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor. New drugs are available for chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy, and advances in preventive medicine have contributed to a decline in deaths from stroke. At the interface of man and machine, pioneering brain-computer interfaces and neuroprosthetic devices offer incredible opportunities to restore neurological and motor functions lost as a result of injury or disease. In addition, insights into the development of the nervous system, brain plasticity, and the genetic basis of brain disease are transforming how we think about the brain and approaches to treating brain disease.
The Brain and Behavior Discussion Group advances fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system, providing the foundation for novel ways to reduce the burden of neurological disease.