Mark Thomas
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Credentials

PhD

Professor

Biography
Presentations

Biography

Bio

Mark Thomas is a professor of neuroscience and director of the Medical Discovery Team on Addiction, a new research program funded by the state legislature to fuel cross-disciplinary collaborations and discover new treatment options. His research examines how addictive drugs alter the brain and how these changes can lead to compulsive drug use. His lab is now focusing on ways to disrupt addiction relapse.

Research Summary

Neurobiology of drug-induced plasticity and addiction A fundamental question in neuroscience is how the structure and function of the brain is modified by experience. One compelling model of experience-dependent plasticity is behavioral sensitization—a long-lasting increase in the locomotor stimulatory effects of drugs of abuse following repeated exposure. Behavioral sensitization is also a prominent model for the intensification of drug craving that occurs in human addicts. My laboratory seeks to identify the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie this form of plasticity, as well as the genetic factors that may predispose an individual to sensitization. We are currently studying two cellular correlates of drug-induced plasticity, long-term depression at glutamatergic synapses in the nucleus accumbens—a key site of action of drugs of abuse in the brain—and the increases in the length of dendrites and the density of dendritic spines that also occur in accumbens neurons. We are using several complementary approaches to determine the relationship that each of these correlates has with behavioral sensitization and with each other: behavioral studies to determine the consequences of drug exposure, the use of transgenic and knockout mice, analysis of dendritic morphology via several staining methods and whole-cell recordings in brain slices to investigate synaptic function. These studies will provide insight into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of an important form of experience-dependent plasticity that may hold some of the clues to drug addiction.

Education

PhD, University of California, Los Angeles

Major: Neuroscience

BA, Northwestern University

Major: Neurobiology and Physiology

Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements

Visiting Assistant Professor, Visiting Professorship

Harvard Medical School

Individual NIDA NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship, Fellowship

Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Fellowship, Fellowship

Licensures and Certifications

Drug Enforcement Agency Registrant,

Honors and Recognition

Other

2013

Other, National Academy of Sciences

2008

McKnight Land-Grant Professorship, University of Minnesota

2006

Other

2005

Professional Memberships

Society for Neuroscience

Selected Presentations

Moidunny, S., Benneyworth, M. A., Macheda, T., Metzger, S., Sharma, U., Meints, J., Thomas, M. J., Roy, S. "Learning and memory impairment in HIV-1-transgenic (Tg)26 mice: Potential regulation by Toll-Like receptors", Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., January 01, 2014.

Benneyworth, M. A., Asp, A. J., Hearing, M. C., Schmidt, C. E., Ebner, S. R., Ingebretson, A. E., Thomas, M. J. "Synaptic depotentation via mGluR5 activation and AMPAR internalization in the nucleus accumbens drives cocaine- primed reinstatement", Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Washington D.C., January 01, 2014.

Fischer, A., Benneyworth, M. A., Macheda, T., Thomas, M. J. "Striatal expression of constitutively active CaMKII promotes resistance to anxiety-provoking stimuli via enhanced Kv4.2 channel function", Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Washington D.C, January 01, 2014.

Smith, L. N., Jedynak, J. P., Fontenot, M. R., Hale, C. F., Dietz, K. C., Taniguchi, M., Thomas, F. S., Zirlin, B. C., Birnbaum, S. G., Huber, K. M., Thomas, M. J., Cowan, C. W. "Fragile X mental retardation protein regulates cocaine-induced behavioral and synaptic plasticity", Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Washington D.C., January 01, 2014.

Hearing, M. C., Jedynak, J. P., Ebner, S. R., Fischer, R. A., Thomas, M. J. "In vivo opiateadministration drives bidirectional and cell-type specific AMPAR plasticity the nucleus accumbens", Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Washington D.C., January 01, 2014.

Victoria, N. C., Marron Fernandez de Velasco, E., Xia, Z., Shnaydruk, A., Kotecki, L., Benneyworth, M., Metzger, S., Thomas, M. J., Wickman, K. "The impact of GIRK2-containing channels on anxiety- and fear-related behavior in mice", Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Washington D.C., January 01, 2014.

Thomas, M. J. "Experience-Driven Synaptic Plasticity in the Neural Circuits for Reward", Mayo Clinic Dept of Pharmacology, Rochester, Minnesota, United States. October 01, 2013.

Thomas, M. J. "Plasticity in the Neural Circuits for Reward: Challenges and Opportunities", Univ of Texas Dept of Psychiatry, Southwestern Med Center, Dallas, Texas, United States. February 01, 2013.

Benneyworth, M. A., Macheda, T., Fischer, R. A., Thomas, M. J. "Striatal expression of constitutively active CaMKII promotes resistance to anxiety-provoking stimuli", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2013.

Jedynak, J. P., Hearing, M., Macheda, T., Asp, A., Schmidt, C. E., Thomas, M. J. "Autonomous striatal CaMKII activity boosts morphine sensitization but disrupts morphine-induced AMPAR plasticity", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2013.

Thomas, M. J. "Environmental Control of Dopamine’s Role in Striatal AMPAR Plasticity", Winter Conference on Brain Research, Breckenridge, Colorado, United States. January 01, 2013.

Thomas, M. J. "Plasticity in the Neural Circuits for Reward: Challenges and Opportunities", Yale University School of Med., New Haven, Connecticut, United States. January 01, 2013.

Thomas, M. J. "Experience-Driven Synaptic Plasticity in the Neural Circuits for Reward", Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States. August 01, 2012.

Smith, L. N., Jedynak, J. P., Fontenot, M. T., Hale, C. F., Dietz, K. C., Thomas, F. S., Taniguchi, M., Zirlin, B. C., Huber, K. M., Birnbaum, S. G., Thomas, M. J., Cowan, C. W. "Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) regulates synaptic and behavioral adaptations to repeated cocaine administration", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2012.

Jedynak, J. P., Thomas, M. J. "A role for NMDARs in psychostimulant-induced depotentiation during abstinence from chronic cocaine", Gordon Conference on Synaptic Transmission, Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, United States. January 01, 2012.

Thomas, M. J. "Catecholamines and Synaptic Transmission", Gordon Conference on Catecholamines, Lewiston, Maine, United States. August 01, 2011.

Robison, A., Vialou, V., Mazei-Robison, M., Kourrich, S., Ahn, F., Russo, S., Thomas, M. J., Nestler, E. "Chronic cocaine engages a feed-forward loop involving Fosb and CaMKII in the nucleus accumbens", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2011.

Jedynak, J. P., Peterson, B., Kourrich, S., Thomas, M. J. "A novel approach for studying psychostimulant-induced AMPAR depotentiation in accumbens neurons", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2011.

Thomas, M. J. "Experience-Driven Synaptic Plasticity in the Neural Circuits for Reward", University of St. Thomas Department of Biology, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. December 01, 2010.

Thomas, M. J. "Experience-Driven Synaptic Plasticity in the Neural Circuits for Reward", Integrative Neurosci Research, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. September 01, 2010.

Thomas, M. J. "Experience-Driven Synaptic and Intrinsic Plasticity in the Neural Circuits for Reward", Yale University School of Med. Dept. of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, New Haven, Connecticut, United States. May 01, 2010.

Robison, A., Vialou, V., Wilkinson, M., Kourrich, S., Collins, M., Thomas, M. J., Nestler, E. "Chronic cocaine and stress engage a feedback loop involving FosB and CaMKII in the nucleus accumbens", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2010.

Thomas, M. J. "Cocaine Experience Drives Synaptic and Intrinsic Plasticity in the Nucleus Accumbens", Gordon Conference on Catecholamines, Biddeford, Maine, United States. August 01, 2009.

Thomas, M. J. "Experience-Driven Synaptic and Intrinsic Plasticity in the Neural Circuits for Reward", University of Michigan Dept. of Psychology, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. April 01, 2009.

Kourrich, S., Rajkovic, K., Thomas, M. J. "Cocaine experience differentially alters firing properties in accumbens core versus shell", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2009.

Rothwell, P. E., Kourrich, S., Lacroix, B. L., Thomas, M. J. "Stressful experience modifies cellular function in the nucleus accumbens", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2009.

Thomas, M. J. "Cocaine Experience Drives Synaptic and Intrinsic Plasticity in the Nucleus Accumbens", Amer. College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP), Scottsdale, Arizona, United States. November 01, 2008.

Thomas, M. J. "Experience-Driven Synaptic Plasticity in Neural Circuits for Reward ", Harvard Univ. Med. School Department of Psychiatry, Boston, Massachusetts, United States. May 01, 2008.

Thomas, M. J. "Cocaine Experience Drives Bidirectional Synaptic Plasticity in the Nucleus Accumbens", University of Pennsylvania Med. School Center for Neurobiol. of Behavior, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. April 01, 2008.

Kelly, M. T., Severin, J., Christensen, H., Rothwell, P. E., Kourrich, S., Thomas, M. J. "Experience-Induced Synaptic Plasticity in the Nucleus Accumbens: Cocaine vs. Amphetamine", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2008.

Thomas, M. J. "Cocaine Experience Drives Bidirectional Synaptic Plasticity in the Nucleus Accumbens", Vanderbilt University Dept. of Molecular Pharmacology & Biophysics, Nashville, Tennessee, United States. January 01, 2008.

Kourrich, S., Klug, J. R., Hottinger, K., Lacroix, B. L., Rothwell, P. E., Mayford, M., Thomas, M. J. "From accumbens plasticity to cocaine reward: a new transgenic model", FENS Forum, Geneva, Switzerland. January 01, 2008.

Kourrich, S., Klug, J., Cardinal, G., Thomas, M. J. "Repeated in vivo cocaine induces a firing rate depression in accumbens neurons that is persistent and not affected by drug challenge", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2008.

Thomas, M. J. "Cocaine Experience Drives Bidirectional Synaptic Plasticity in the Nucleus Accumbens", Boston Univ. Dept. of Pharmacology And Expt. Therapeutics, Boston, Massachusetts, United States. January 01, 2008.

Thomas, M. J. "Cocaine Experience Drives Bidirectional Synaptic Plasticity in the Nucleus Accumbens", Louisiana State University Dept. of Toxicology and Neuroscience, Shreveport, Louisiana, United States. December 01, 2007.

Thomas, M. J. "Experience-Elicited Synaptic Plasticity in the Nucleus Accumbens", Society for Neuroscience (SFN) Symposium, SFN Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, United States. November 01, 2007.

Thomas, M. J. "Experience-Elicited Synaptic Plasticity in the Nucleus Accumbens", Keystone Symp. on the Neurobiology of Addiction, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States. February 01, 2007.

Kourrich, S., Rothwell, P. E., Klug, J. R., Thomas, M. J. "Experience-elicited synaptic plasticity in the nucleus accumbens: bidirectional control by cocaine and stress", Keystone Symposium: Neurobiology of Addiction, January 01, 2007.

Rothwell, P. E., Kourrich, S., LaCroix, B. L., Klug, J. R., Thomas, M. J. "Shared Effects of Cocaine and Stress on Nucleus Accumbens Synaptic Strength", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2007.

Kourrich, S., Klug, J. R., Hottinger, K., Rothwell, P. E., Mayford, M. M., Thomas, M. J. "Interplay between accumbens synaptic and intrinsic plasticity in cocaine reward", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2007.

Thomas, M. J. "Cocaine Experience Drives Bidirectional Synaptic Plasticity in the Nucleus Accumbens", Medical University of South Carolina Department of Neuroscience, Charleston, South Carolina, United States. November 01, 2006.

Thomas, M. J. "Cocaine Experience Drives Bidirectional Synaptic Plasticity in the Nucleus Accumbens", Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago, Illinois, United States. September 01, 2006.

Thomas, M. J. "Experience-Elicited Synaptic Plasticity in the Nucleus Accumbens", Spring Brain Conference, Sedona, Arizona, United States. March 01, 2006.

Sun, M., Thomas, M. J., Petryk, A., Lanier, L. M., Herder, R., Selleck, S. B., O'Connor, M. B. "Presynaptic contributions of BMP signaling to hippocampal plasticity and spatial learning", Gordon Conference on Synaptic Transmission, January 01, 2006.

Rothwell, P. E., Ehrich, J. M., LaCroix, B. L., Palmerton, A., Gewirtz, J. C., Thomas, M. J. " Probing the Relationship between Acute Morphine Withdrawal and Psychomotor Sensitization", 5th Forum of European Neuroscience, January 01, 2006.

Rothwell, P. E., LaCroix, B. L., Ehrich, J. M., Gewirtz, J. C., Thomas, M. J. "Acute withdrawal episodes are involved in psychomotor sensitization to morphine", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2006.

Kourrich, S., Klug, J. R., Rothwell, P. E., Thomas, M. J. "Synaptic plasticity in the nucleus accumbens: Bidirectional control by in vivo cocaine", 5th Forum of European Neuroscience, January 01, 2006.

Klug, J. R., Kourrich, S., Hottinger, K., Rothwell, P. E., Mayford, M. M., Thomas, M. J. "Bidirectional synaptic plasticity in the nucleus accumbens: a role in cocaine sensitization?", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2006.

Kourrich, S., Klug, J. R., Rothwell, P. E., Thomas, M. J. "Bidirectional synaptic plasticity in the nucleus accumbens: Control by in vivo cocaine", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2006.

Thomas, M. J., Barth, A. L., Murphy, G. G. "Innovative Transgenic Approaches in the Study of Cognitive and Psychiatric Disorders", Spring Brain Conference, Sedona, Arizona, United States. January 01, 2005.

Kourrich, S., Klug, J. R., Rothwell, P. E., Mayford, M. M., Thomas, M. J. "Striatal CaMKII activation interferes with behavioral sensitization to cocaine", Gordon Research Conference on Catecholamines, January 01, 2005.

Sun, M., Thomas, M. J., Petryk, A., Selleck, S. B., O'Connor, M. B. "Chordin, an endogenous antagonist of BMP signaling, modulates hippocampal synaptic plasticity", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2005.

Kourrich, S., Klug, J. R., Rothwell, P. E., Mayford, M. M., Thomas, M. J. "Striatal CaMKII activation interferes with behavioral sensitization to cocaine", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2005.

Thomas, M. J. "Psychostimulant-Induced Plasticity in Neural Circuitry and Behavior", Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. October 01, 2004.

Saal, D. B., Dong, Y., Thomas, M. J., Kreitzer, A. C., Bonci, A., Robinson, T. E., Malenka, R. C. "Mechanisms and possible functional role of the experience-dependent potentiation of synaptic strength in midbrain dopamine neurons", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2004.

Bradley, K. C., Thomas, M. J., Mermelstein, P. G. "Immunolocalization of the NFAT isoforms (NFATc1-4) in the adult mouse brain", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2004.

Thomas, M. J. "Synaptic Plasticity in the Mesolimbic Dopamine System", Society for Neuroscience (SFN) Symposium, SFN Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. November 01, 2003.

Thomas, M. J. "Psychostimulant-Induced Plasticity in Neural Circuitry and Behavior", Mouse Behavior Course, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, United States. July 01, 2003.

Ferguson, S. M., Thomas, M. J., Robinson, T. E. "Environmental context and drug history modulate morphine-evoked psychomotor activation and gene expression in the neocortex and striatal cell populations", Gordon Research Conference on Catecholamines, January 01, 2003.

Thomas, M. J., Robinson, T. E. "Reconsolidation of amphetamine-conditioned responses, but not psychomotor sensitization", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2002.

Thomas, M. J., Beurrier, C., Bonci, A., Malenka, R. C. " Behavioral sensitization to cocaine is associated with long-term depression of excitatory synaptic transmission in the nucleus accumbens", UCSF Wheeler Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction Symposium, January 01, 2001.

Thomas, M. J., Beurrier, C., Malenka, R. C. "Repeated cocaine treatment in vivo enhances the modulation of excitatory synaptic transmission by dopamine in the nucleus accumbens", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2001.

Thomas, M. J., Malenka, R. C. "Behavioral sensitization to cocaine is associated with changes in nucleus accumbens synaptic transmission", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 2000.

Thomas, M. J., Malenka, R. C. "NMDA receptor-dependent long-term depression in the nucleus accumbens", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 1999.

Thomas, M. J., Watabe, A. M., Makhinson, M., O'Dell, T. J. "Complex-spike bursts are necessary for induction of CA1 LTP by 5 Hz stimulation", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 1997.

Watabe, A. M., Thomas, M. J., Makhinson, M., O'Dell, T. J. "EPSP/Complex-spike burst coincidence regulates 5 Hz stimulation-induced CA1 LTP", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 1997.

Thomas, M. J., Moody, T. D., Makhinson, M., O'Dell, T. J. "Activity-dependent β-adrenergic modulation of CA1 LTP", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 1996.

Thomas, M. J., O'Dell, T. J. "The molecular switch hypothesis does not account for the inconsistent effects of MCPG on CA1 LTP", Society for Neuroscience, January 01, 1995.