The 2017 GRC and GRS on Inhibition in the CNS aim to increase our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms contributing to the critical role of inhibitory neurotransmission in normal and abnormal CNS function. The scientific sessions will include the role of GABAergic transmission during brain development, the mechanisms of GABAergic synapse formation and plasticity, the significance of interneuron diversity and their function in specific neuronal circuits. Emphasis will be given to new areas of research not covered in prior meetings, such as the role of GABA in neurodevelopmental disorders and in sleep regulation. A major accent will be set to bridge the knowledge gap in our understanding of fundamental mechanisms of brain function and of pathophysiology of CNS disorders. The discussions at this meeting will thus help define fundamental questions that require experimental resolution in areas that affect human development and cognition, including neurological and psychiatric diseases involving abnormal inhibition, with a special focus on neurodevelopmental brain disorders.