Thomas F. Newton, Ph.D. - Biographical Sketch
Associate Professor in Residence, Division of Adult Psychiatry, UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences
Senior Research Scientist, Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, UCLA Neurpsychiatric Institute

Research Interests

Following completion of post-doctoral training in psychobiology, I focused on the study of neurobiology using quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG). Initially, I focused on studies of HIV and described EEG power and coherence abnormalities in subjects with advanced HIV disease (Newton et al 1994a; Newton et al 1994b). Subsequently, I explored potential associations between HIV-related changes in these measures and changes in brain metabolic activity, using positron emission tomography (PET). I then began to extend and expand this work into the area of substance abuse, initially using QEEG and PET to evaluate smokers (Newton et al 1998; Newton et al 1997) and stimulant users. I and co-workers have recently shown that methamphetamine dependence is associated with QEEG abnormalities and with impairment on a range of neuropsychological tests (Kalechstein et al 2003; Newton et al 2003a); other papers show that these electrophysiological and functional measures are highly intercorrelated (Newton et al in press; Newton et al 2004; Newton et al 2003b). Supported by a K08 award, I have completed and am finalizing analysis of a study evaluating neurochemical abnormalities in methamphetamine dependence, using 11C-WIN 35,428 PET to assess dopamine transporter (DAT) availability. Methamphetamine-dependent participants showed reduced DAT availability (20% reduction for caudate and 18% reduction for putamen, compared to non-drug-using comparison subjects). I believe these neurobiological changes have critical implications for better understanding (and developing treatments for) methamphetamine dependence, but I also believe that it is likely that they are not the entire story, as will be discussed more fully below. My research career has been predominantly committed to patient-oriented research and will remain so, as indicated below in Section C and in the Research Plan.

As noted above, I believe that these neurobiological changes reflect only part of the story. The effects of stress on the course of stimulant dependence have generally been overlooked or ignored. Preclinical research has shown that exposure to a variety of stressors is associated with reinstatement of extinguished drug-seeking behavior, as exemplified by the reinstatement model of relapse (Le and Shaham 2002; Shaham et al 2000; Shaham and Stewart 1994; Shaham and Stewart 1995). In addition, chronic stress as modeled by early maternal deprivation is associated with higher rates of drug self-administration in monkeys (Higley et al 1991; Higley et al 1993) and in rats (Kosten et al 2000), and chronic stress has been shown to alter the effects of acute stress in humans (Irwin et al 1991; Pike et al 1997) . I propose to utilize support from this award to obtain additional training in order to the acquire skills and experience needed to carry out research investigating the physiologic and behavioral effects of acute and chronic stress in methamphetamine dependence, as described in the Research Plan below I believe that my current abilities and knowledge will be significantly complemented by the addition of these skills, and that this will facilitate my overall goal, which is to utilize findings from comprehensive, interdisciplinary research to develop effective treatments for stimulant abuse disorders.

Recent Publications

Kalechstein AD, De La Garza R 2nd, Mahoney JJ 3rd, Fantegrossi WE, Newton TF.
MDMA use and neurocognition: a meta-analytic review. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2007 Jan;189(4):531-7. Epub 2006 Nov 3. Review.

Irwin MR, Olmos L, Wang M, Valladares EM, Motivala SJ, Fong T, Newton T, Butch A, Olmstead R, Cole SW.
Cocaine dependence and acute cocaine induce decreases of monocyte proinflammatory cytokine expression across the diurnal period: autonomic mechanisms. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2007 Feb;320(2):507-15. Epub 2006 Oct 26.

Contact Information

Thomas F. Newton, Ph.D.
Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences
Box 951759, A7-372 NPI
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1759
Phone: (310) 267-0159
Fax: (310) 267-0162
E-mail: tnewton@ucla.edu