Author

Annaka M. Westphal

Medical University of South Carolina

Listed by name: these papers carry no ORCID for this author, so different people with the same name may be mixed together.

Biology Disciplines

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Neuroscience· 4

Signature Assays, Organisms & Methods

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Approach:experimental assay· 4 Organism:mouse· 3 Research Focus:cell type annotation· 2 Assay:imaging· 2 Research Focus:cell-cell communication· 1 Research Focus:differential expression· 1 Research Focus:drug response / drug discovery· 1 Organism:rat· 1

Frequent Co-Authors

James M. OtisiD· 4 shared Lisa M. GreeniD· 4 shared Michael D. ScofieldiD· 4 shared Jayda Carroll-DeatoniD· 3 shared Rachel E. ClarkeiD· 3 shared Ashley G. Brock· 2 shared Bayleigh E. Pagoota· 2 shared Benjamin M. SiemseniD· 2 shared

Activity by Year

2022-2025 · peak 2/yr

Co-Author Collaboration Network

10 top collaborators · 39 mutual co-author links

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4 shared papersNeuroscience

James M. OtisORCID

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4 papers

Recent·Most cited

Cortical astrocytes flexibly encode reward contingencies and shape conditioned behavior

Jacqueline E. Paniccia, Roger I. Grant, Annaka M. Westphal, Rachel E. Clarke, Elizabeth M. Doncheck, Bayleigh E. Pagoota, Jayda Carroll-Deaton, Bogdan Bordieanu, Sophie Buchmaier, Lydia G. Klumb, Lisa M. Green, Joshua A. Boquiren, James M. Otis, Michael D. Scofield

This study shows prefrontal astrocytes encode reward contingencies and adapt to changes in reward associations, influencing conditioned behavior.

bioRxiv · Dec 11, 2025 · PreprintNeuroscience

Corticostriatal ensemble dynamics across heroin self-administration to reinstatement

Rachel E. Clarke, Roger I. Grant, Shannon N. Woods, Bayleigh E. Pagoota, Sophie Buchmaier, Bogdan Bordieanu, Anna Tsyrulnikov, Annaka M. Westphal, Jacqueline E. Paniccia, Elizabeth M. Doncheck, Jayda Carroll-Deaton, Kelsey M. Vollmer, Amy L. Ward, Kion T. Winston, Danielle I. King, , James M. Otis

This study uses two-photon calcium imaging to analyze corticostriatal neuron activity in mice during heroin self-administration and relapse, identifying distinct neuronal ensembles and their role in drug-seeking behaviors.

bioRxiv · Jun 21, 2024 · PreprintNeuroscience

Accumbens Nitrergic Interneurons Drive the Cell Type-Specific Synaptic Plasticity Required for Cue-Induced Cocaine Seeking

Adam R. Denton, Rachel E. Clarke, Lisa M. Green, Jayda Carroll-Deaton, Annaka M. Westphal, Benjamin M. Siemsen, Ashley G. Brock, Elizabeth A. Hochberg, Jacob Lavine, Makoto Taniguchi, Jacqueline F. McGinty, Alexander C.W. Smith, Constanza García‐Keller, James M. Otis, Michael D. Scofield

This paper identifies nitrergic interneurons as key mediators of cue-induced synaptic plasticity in D1 MSNs required for cocaine seeking, showing that targeting nNOS or mGluR5 blocks relapse.

bioRxiv · Apr 5, 2024 · PreprintNeuroscience

A subset of nucleus accumbens neurons receiving dense and functional prelimbic cortical input are required for cocaine seeking

Benjamin M. Siemsen, Sarah M. Barry, Kelsey M. Vollmer, Lisa M. Green, Ashley G. Brock, Annaka M. Westphal, Raven A. King, Derek M. DeVries, James M. Otis, Christopher W. Cowan, Michael D. Scofield

The paper identifies a specific subset of nucleus accumbens neurons targeted by prelimbic cortical input that mediate cue-induced cocaine relapse but not sucrose seeking.

Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience · Feb 23, 2022Peer-reviewedNeuroscience