Erika Nyhus

Erika Nyhus is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology at Bowdoin College. Her research focuses on the neural substrates of higher-level cognition, particularly executive functioning and episodic memory, using EEG, ERP, and fMRI techniques. She teaches courses in cognitive neuroscience and memory, emphasizing scientific thinking.

• Post-doctoral Education: Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences, Brown University (2010–2013)
• PhD: Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, and Psychology, University of Colorado-Boulder (2010)
• MA: Psychology, University of Colorado-Boulder (2006)
• BA: Psychology and Anthropology, University of California-Berkeley (2003)

Her research examines how neural oscillations (e.g., theta, gamma, alpha) mediate memory retrieval, executive control, and attention. Recent work investigates tACS for memory enhancement and the role of mindfulness meditation in modulating brain activity. She integrates behavioral and neuroimaging methods to explore interactions between brain systems during cognition.

The Nyhus Lab leverages EEG to study neural dynamics in memory and attention, with a focus on theta/gamma oscillations during retrieval and spatial navigation. Publications highlight applications of mindfulness, aging-related memory differences, and genetic influences on ERP patterns. Collaborative projects involve undergraduate students in experimental design, data analysis, and co-authorship.

• Lab members include honors students and research assistants working on EEG paradigms, spatial memory, and neurostimulation.
• Her outreach includes public science articles (e.g., The Conversation) and media coverage in Bowdoin News and the Cognitive Neuroscience Society.

Outside academia, she enjoys yoga, outdoor activities in Maine, and travel, including a year in Spain and the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.