Genetic and Neural Basis of Imprinting in Quail Chicks

在本项目中，我们研究了新孵鹌鹑/家鸡的认知功能及其记忆形成和行为控制的脑机制。一系列的实验研究，从行为分析，到突触和神经元特性的神经生理学研究，如长期增强/抑制，分子机制，如即时早期基因表达（c-fos和ZENK），到系统神经科学，从自由行为的小鸡的单单元记录。这些研究是在匈牙利和日本随行科学家的密切联合活动下完成的。进行了以下研究：行为研究：开发新的学习任务和分析记忆内容。初级记忆过程的生理学研究：突触长期增强和即时早期基因。记忆细胞表达的系统神经科学研究这些研究让我们认识到，数亿年前从哺乳动物的进化路径中分离出来的鸟类，具有与哺乳动物（甚至灵长类动物）基本相同的认知过程。比较认知脑科学为阐明“智力”的起源提供了独特的策略。

In this project, we studied cognitive functions and the underlying brain mechanisms of memory formation and behavioral control in newly hatched quail/domestic chicks. A series of experimental researches, ranging from behavioral analyses, through, neurophysiological studies of synapses and neuronal properties such as long-term potentiation/depression, molecular mechanisms like immediate early gene expression(c-fos and ZENK), toward the system neuroscience with single unit recording from freely behaving chicks. These studies were accomplished in a close joint activities between Hungarian and Japanese attendant scientists.Following researches were performed.1. Behavioral studies : Development of novel learning tasks and analysis of the memory contents.2. Physiological studies of the elementary memory process : Synaptic long-term potentiation and immediate early genes.3. System neuroscience studies of the cellular expression of memoryThese studies gave us an idea that birds, who have diverged from the evolutionary path from mammals several hundreds of million years ago, are endowed with basically identical cognitive process as mammals(even primates)possess. Comparative Cognitive Brain Science serves the unique strategy for elucidating the origin of "intelligence."