e-mail: megan.torry@uleth.ca
Lab: EP 1213
Biography
Megan was born and raised in Lethbridge, Alberta. She received a music scholarship and continues to play as a hobbyist, but in the end chose to pursue a science degree. She is presently doing her MSc in Dr. Bruce McNaughton’s lab using in vivo imaging techniques to study the impact of hippocampi in cortical brain plasticity (see research interests below). Throughout her career she has been involved in multiple laboratory settings, from industry to competing at MIT with the local University iGEM team. Academic lab work includes Dr. Keir Pearson’s physiology lab in Edmonton, focusing on the behavior of limb locomotion, and the sensory feedback/working memory that allows for correct hindlimb position during successful obstacle (hurdle) avoidance. During her undergrad she took part in Bryan Kolb’s behavioural neuroscience lab studying methylphenidate’s effects on behavior and John Vokey’s micro-cognition lab focusing on the classification of forensic fingerprints. Megan is also currently working directly with clients as a support worker and has had the opportunity to teach through the Lethbridge College.
Research Interests
What is the best way to study the mysterious biological nature of memory?
Visual information in the way of observation is often prone to skepticism and met with distrust. In the late 19th century dendritic spines were generally considered an artifact of Golgi staining and played no part in memory whatsoever. A famous scientist named Cajal changed this perception by persistently studying the biological relevance of spines in connecting axons and dendrites to one another. Their study and documentation has continued ever since, and is a fascinating area of study that can be furthered.
A large part of studying the brain comes with the sacrifice of animals, and we should appreciate the knowledge gained from them that we cannot gain from humans. An important similarity shared with lab animals is the presence of dendritic spines. Using two-photon laser scanning microscopy, microscale resolution images of mouse tissue were taken across experiences. These images provide time-series structural information about dendritic spines and axons; captured modifications of the same locations over weeks. These in vivo modifications represent brain plasticity during the initial stages of learning, including the exploration of a novel environment. The analysis and interpretations of such imaging data can have many possible forms, all with the central idea that spines and axons are morphological in nature and serve as structures for learning and memory.
A fundamental difference between mouse retrosplenial hemispheres has been shown through pathological anatomy of unilateral hippocampal lesion images. Direct connections from the hippocampus to retrosplenial cortex are missing in all lesion hemispheres. We are interested in supporting that hippocampal lesions will have an effect on both spine and axon morphology in other areas of the cortex. Is the hippocampus constantly consolidating episodic memories (especially during quiet wakefulness and sleep) in order to navigate our ever- changing world? In our lesion animal models, memories are mainly being ‘consolidated’ to only one hemisphere of the cortex rather than equally between the two, creating a fundamental divide that we will study.
Are other interpretations of such morphological data worthwhile? One collaboration includes the creation of 3D printed structures of complex dendritic patterns using our real brain data. In addition, a modification of the famous Sholl analysis has been adapted by using the music staff instead of a target to map the dendritic spines for sonification purposes; each spine serving as its own note. Finally, the creation of visual stereograms to incorporate depth in often convoluted images. Being open to multidisciplinary analysis will give us a richer perception of such rare data.
Publications
- Torry M.E. and Vokey J.R. (2005). Fingerprint Mathcing and Naive Observers. 24th Banff Annual Seminar in Cognitive Science (BASICS) (May 13-14), Banff, AB. (Presented Poster).
- Torry M.E.,Wieden H.J., et al. (2009). A Synthetic Future: Microcompartments, Nanoparticles and the Bio-Battery. iGEM competition and Jamboree, Massachusetts institute of technology (Oct.31-Nov.2), Cambridge. MA. (Presented Poster).
- Torry M.E and McNaughton B.L. (2017). Axon and Dendritic Spine Modifications Occur Simultaneously in the Brain. 13th Annual Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI) Research Day (May 19), Calgary, AB. (Presented Poster).
- Torry M.E. Translating Neuroscience Data for the Senses: Multi-Dimensional Structures and Sound Compositions. 12th Annual Meeting of the Minds, (Lethbridge, AB), 2018.