Leanne De May

As a PhD candidate in the Anthropology department at Stony Brook University, I am completing my dissertation on the evolution of the cerebellum in primates. My goal is to enhance our understanding of cerebellar evolution by examining brains at the microscopic level. In order to do this I need two things: access to brains of a wide variety of primate species (from lemurs to gorillas) and access to scanners that are capable of capturing high-resolution images.

I work in Dr. Jeroen Smaers’ Macroevolutionary Neuroanatomy Lab at SBU, which has close ties with the Cecile & Oskar Vogt Institute for Brain Research in Düsseldorf that houses one of the largest collections of primate brains within their historical histological collections.

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In particular, Leanne De May's research involved the use of a high-resolution scanner

They also have several high-resolution scanners that are capable of capturing the images that are crucial for my data collection. From the images that I collected at the Vogt Institute, I will be collecting variables such as Purkinje cell quantity and cortical thickness of the different layers of the cerebellar cortex.

These variables represent different aspects of the microcircuitry of the cerebellum responsible for information processing. By comparing these variables in different functional areas across primate species, we can better understand the more nuanced nature of cerebellar information processing, how its regional variation can impact behavior, and the trajectories this variation has taken throughout human and primate brain evolution.

This friendly Leanne DeMay was officially welcomed on the institute's website

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So freundlich wurde Leanne DeMay offiziell auf der Website des Instituts begrüßt

Dr. Katrin Amunts of the Vogt Institute was very gracious in hosting me at the institute and connecting me with the collection managers and residential experts. I was able to successfully collect high-resolution brain scans of over 40 different primate species that will be used in my dissertation for data collection and incorporated into the Vogt Institute’s digital collections for future researchers to utilize.

Everyone working at the institute was very hospitable and willing to provide helpful input for my research. They introduced me to new deep learning methodologies that can automate parts of my data collection and new variables to consider in my analyses.

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Brain Scans

I was additionally given the opportunity to present my dissertation proposal to the Vogt scientists and highlight how the historical collections can still be utilized for valuable research. In order to identify evolutionary trajectories of the cerebellum, or any brain structure for that matter, comparative studies that incorporate a large and representative sample of species are crucial.

Our primate relatives are excellent for these types of analyses that aim to identify trajectories of human brain evolution. Primate brains however, are not that easy to come by. That is why the Vogt Institute’s large primate brain collection is so valuable for neuroanatomical research.

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The Rabenstein in the Neandertal, the site where Homo neanderthalensis was found

During my free time, I often explored cities across Germany. My first trip was visiting the Neanderthal Museum in the nearby Neander Valley, an anthropologist’s dream. It was also my first opportunity to take the Bahn out of the city and through the breathtaking countryside. Over my seven month stay, I visited Aachen, Berlin, Cologne, and Munich for the annual Krampus run.

Locally in Düsseldorf, I explored the city with friends that I had made during my stay. We took painting classes in the city center, tried several different restaurants, and even saw ‘Hansel and Gretel’ at the local opera house. My favorite part was all of the Christmas Markets in December! However, experiencing an authentic Karneval in Düsseldorf was a close second.

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Among other things, Leanne De May visited the Christmas market on the Domplatte in Cologne

Now that I am back home in NY, I am collecting data using the high-resolution scans that I have collected. Not only has my stay at the Vogt Institute provided me with the scans necessary to move forward with my dissertation, but also valuable insight from on-site experts and new methodologies for my data collection (e.g. implementing a deep learning model created by one of their researchers to automate part of the data collection process).

I plan on continuing my collaborations with researchers at the Vogt Institute and look forward to working with them on future endeavors. I also plan on visiting in the future as I have been fortunate enough to make life-long friends along the way! Overall, my experience in Dusseldorf was life changing and broadened my horizons both academically and culturally.