The program of the fifth Gordon Research Conference on the Auditory System emphasizes plasticity in the auditory system and the diverse ways in which the auditory system adapts to genetic, environmental, and developmental changes, and the reduction and restoration of acoustic signals in the system. Investigators will present new results in areas from genetics to central nervous system physiology and behavior. Topics include genetic regulation of inner ear epithelia, hair bundles, hair cell transduction and synaptic transmission, noise trauma at cochlear and systems levels, hearing loss and restoration, echolocation, and neural encoding of sound location and speech. Gordon Research Conferences provide a setting for the discussion of novel research in a relaxed environment with 100-150 outstanding scientists at all stages post-undergraduate.

The Auditory System meeting is paired with a smaller, shorter meeting for postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, The Auditory System Gordon Research Seminar (July 9-10, 2016). Seminar attendees are encouraged to attend the subsequent Gordon Research Conference. Conference speakers include brief introductions to bring diverse audience members up to speed followed by unpublished work. There is ample time for discussion - following each talk, or while hiking in the afternoon, or during poster-and-refreshment sessions each evening.