Author

Erica S. Townsend

Dartmouth CollegeORCID 0000-0002-5247-8036Unclaimed ORCID profile · follow to get notified of new preprints

Biology Disciplines

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Neuroscience· 3

Signature Assays, Organisms & Methods

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Approach:experimental assay· 3 Organism:rat· 2 Assay:electronic health records· 1 Organism:mouse· 1

Frequent Co-Authors

Kyle S. SmithiD· 3 shared Kenneth A. AmayaiD· 2 shared Daniela Garrod· 1 shared Elizabeth B. SmedleyiD· 1 shared Elizabeth BieniD· 1 shared James Eric CarmichaeliD· 1 shared Jeffrey J. StottiD· 1 shared Jensen A. Palmer· 1 shared

Activity by Year

2023-2026 · peak 1/yr

Co-Author Collaboration Network

8 top collaborators · 18 mutual co-author links

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3 shared papersNeuroscience

Kyle S. SmithORCID

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3 papers

Recent·Most cited

Habit learning shapes activity dynamics in the central nucleus of the amygdala

Kenneth A. Amaya, James Eric Carmichael, Jeffrey J. Stott, Erica S. Townsend, Elizabeth Bien, Jensen A. Palmer, Kyle S. Smith

This study investigates how CeA neurons encode behavioral features during habit formation in rats performing a maze task, finding increased cFos expression and specific outcome-related activity.

Journal of Neuroscience · Sep 1, 2026Peer-reviewedNeuroscience

Phasic dopamine encodes persistent attraction to reward cues

Erica S. Townsend, Daniela Garrod, Kyle S. Smith

This study shows that cue-evoked dopamine in the nucleus accumbens persists despite reward loss, encoding incentive salience rather than reward outcome.

bioRxiv · Dec 12, 2025 · PreprintNeuroscience

Nucleus accumbens acetylcholine receptors modulate the balance of flexible and inflexible cue-directed motivation

Erica S. Townsend, Kenneth A. Amaya, Elizabeth B. Smedley, Kyle S. Smith

This study shows that nucleus accumbens acetylcholine receptors differentially regulate flexibility and persistence in sign-tracking behavior without affecting cue motivational value.

Scientific Reports · Aug 17, 2023Peer-reviewedNeuroscience