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Iva Zovkic is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Her research focuses on the neurobiological mechanisms by which transient experiences produce persistent behavioral outcomes, primarily through the lens of memory formation. Zovkic explores how epigenetic mechanisms serve as a bridge between environmental stimuli and gene regulation, providing potential stable molecular marks that are required to support memory formation and maintenance over a lifetime. The studies demonstrate that histone variant exchange, particularly involving histone H2A.Z, plays a vital role in memory consolidation within the hippocampus and cortex, acting as a restraint on the formation of recent remote memories. Her interests center on elucidating the regulatory role of nucleosome composition and histone variant exchange in cognition, especially in relation to co-occurring epigenetic modifications. Zovkic aims to uncover the mechanisms of histone exchange and how they regulate downstream targets over time, contributing essential insights into the molecular basis of memory. Her research encompasses various stages of memory formation, including the initial transient consolidation events in the hippocampus and the subsequent gradual transfer of memories to the cortex, termed systems consolidation. Furthermore, she is particularly interested in the coordinated effects of histone variants and post-translational modifications on DNA methylation in regulating memory formation and maintenance.
Department of Sociology