US-Hungary Joint Fund Research on Evolutionary Analysis of the Neural Substrate for Avain Song

德布森市科苏斯大学的Tamas Szekely博士和伊萨卡市康奈尔大学的Timothy DeVoogd博士合作开展的这项美国-匈牙利合作研究项目的主要目标是研究和比较六种鸟类之间的差异，这些鸟类表现出非常不同的鸣叫特征。研究人员将研究负责鸣声获取和产生的相互联系的脑核，以确定鸣声系统核在物种之间的差异，或者物种之间的解剖学差异是否与鸣声的差异有系统的关系。结果应该有助于我们对大脑和行为关系的基本理解，通过借鉴进化生物学和神经生物学的互补优势。该项目的资金由设在布达佩斯的美国-匈牙利联合基金按照既定的指导方针发放。这个动物学项目通过使美国和东欧的顶尖专家在共同感兴趣和能力强的领域结合互补的人才和汇集资源，实现了推进科学知识的计划目标。

The primary objective of this U.S.-Hungary cooperative research project between Dr. Tamas Szekely of Kossuth University, Debrecen, and Dr. Timothy DeVoogd of Cornell University, Ithaca, is to examine and compare contrasts between six bird species exhibiting very different song characteristics. The researchers will study the interconnected brain nuclei responsible for song acquisition and production in order to determine how song system nuclei differ between species or whether variation in anatomy between species is systematically related to differences in song. Results should contribute to our fundamental understanding of the relationship of brain and behavior by drawing upon complementing strengths in evolutionary biology and neurobiology. Funds for the project are awarded through the US-Hungary Joint Fund, Budapest, in accordance with established guidelines. This project in zoology fulfills the program objective of advancing scientific knowledge by enabling leading experts in the United States and Eastern Europe to combine complementary talents and pool resources in areas of strong mutual interest and competence.