Genetic and Neural Basis of Imprinting in Quail Chicks

本研究以鹌鹑/家鸡为研究对象，探讨了其认知功能以及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，如长时程增强/抑制，分子机制，如立即早期基因表达（c-fos和ZENK），到系统神经科学，从自由行为的鸡的单单位记录。这些研究是在匈牙利和日本随行科学家的密切合作下完成的。行为研究：新学习任务的开发和记忆内容的分析.基础记忆过程的生理学研究：突触长时程增强和即刻早期基因.系统神经科学研究记忆的细胞表达这些研究让我们想到，在数亿年前从哺乳动物进化道路上分化出来的鸟类，被赋予了与哺乳动物（甚至灵长类）基本相同的认知过程。比较认知脑科学是阐释“智力”起源的独特策略。"

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."