Mykenzi Davis-Cowart
MIT Department: Health Sciences and Technology
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Emery Brown
Research Supervisors: Karla Alejandra Montejo, Juan F. Santoyo
Undergraduate Institution: North Carolina Central University
Hometown: St. Petersburg, Florida
Website: LinkedIn
Biography
Mykenzi Davis-Cowart is a rising sophomore majoring in Biomedical Sciences and minoring in Political Science at North Carolina Central University. She is a part of the Cheatham White Scholarship Program. Mykenzi holds numerous leadership roles as Miss Sophomore for the 2024-2025 academic year, Vice President of Big Sister Little Sister, Community Service Chair for the Minority Association of Pre-Med Scholars, Sisterly Relations Chair for the Alpha Chi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and is a proud member of the Tri-Beta Honor Society and Science African American Majors Evolving. Mykenzi is also devoted to her community as she is the founder of the non-profit Kenzi’s Korner and co-founder of C&K’s Kindling Change. She is dedicated to working to address the concerning issues within healthcare that impact minority communities, which is why she obtained her EMT and EKG certifications at 17 years old. Mykenzi has aspirations of becoming an Anesthesiologist and advancing her knowledge through research.
Abstract
Understanding the Relationship Between Early Life Stress and PV Interneurons
Mykenzi Davis-Cowart1, Juan F Santoyo2, Karla Alejandra Montejo2, Dr. Emery Brown2
1Department of Health and Sciences, North Carolina Central University
2Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Early exposure to chronic stress during childhood or adolescence, known as Early Life Stress (ELS), can lead to immediate or long-term psychological impacts. ELS mouse models are essential for understanding how these adverse experiences affect brain development and mental health. In our research, we used the Limited Nesting and Bedding (LNB) model to simulate stress caused by resource scarcity. In this model, newborn mice and their mothers receive insufficient nesting materials, leading to stress. We employed immunohistochemistry to study the impact of ELS and this technique involved preparing mouse brain samples with antibodies for c-fos, a marker of brain activity, and parvalbumin, a marker for inhibitory neurons. We then imaged these samples using a confocal microscope. We focused on parvalbumin interneurons in the amygdala, a brain region critical for emotional processing and stress responses. These interneurons regulate the firing rate and coordination of brain circuits. Understanding how ELS affects these interneurons is crucial for elucidating the cellular and molecular processes behind the long-term effects of stress on brain function and behavior. Our results will report how LNB exposure impacts parvalbumin cell counts and neuronal activity in the amygdala, shedding light on how ELS influences neuron function and overall brain health.
