While Neuroscience 2021’s in-person
offering was cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the conference
is still going ahead online November 8-11.

The ease of switching between online
sessions – and the Society for Neuroscience’s (SFN) dedicated session planner –
makes finding specific topics straightforward. However, there are still a dizzying number
of plenaries, symposia and posters to sift through. Here, we pick a few
highlights from day three of the conference.

M06 – Glia — The Glue Holding Memories Together

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM, November 10

Once thought of as mere support cells, our
understanding of the central role that non-neuronal cells, such as astrocytes
and oligodendrocytes play in our brain molecular mechanisms has leapt forward
in recent years. This fascinating minisymposium will look the role of glia in
the formation of memories, featuring experts from Stanford University, the
University of Lausanne and The Autonomous University of Barcelona.

M40 – Spatial Transcriptomics Methods
for Cell Type Identification in the Central Nervous System (CNS) — Methods and
Analysis

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM, November 10

Spatial transcriptomics is a hugely
exciting technology that promises to make complex tissues and brain areas
easier to interrogate. The burgeoning research using this technique will be
reviewed in this minsymposium, which also promises to act as a “forum for discussing
data generation, processing and analysis methods.”

A02 – 50th Storytelling Session — Oh
Sh*t — Great Scientists Tell Stories About Their Greatest Failures

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM, November 10

Cells refused to plate properly? Unbalanced
centrifuge remodeled your lab? Left the antibodies out of the fridge too long?
Log into this largely self-explanatory session to hear leading scientists wax
lyrical about their own “Oh SH*T” moments.