Scott Bowen

Scott Bowen

Research Interest/Area of Expertise

• My current research focuses on behavioral pharmacology, behavioral toxicology, and neurobehavioral teratology. Research in my laboratory investigates the behavioral effects of abused drugs, particularly inhalants. My research is designed to understand why volatile organic solvents, such as toluene and nitrous oxide, are abused. I am also interested in the long term effects of repeated use of these volatile organic solvents. In collaboration with Dr. John Hannigan, we are developing a model of prenatal abuse of volatile organic solvents (e.g., toluene). Our research in neurobehavioral teratology includes animal models and clinical studies of the mechanisms, outcomes and treatment of the effects of prenatal exposure to toluene (Fetal Solvent Syndrome).

Education – Degrees, Licenses, Certifications

• BA, MA, PhD

Awards and Grants

• Awards

  WSU President's Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2017-2018

  WSU CLAS Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2010-2011

  American Psychological Association, Div. 28, Scientist “Spotlight”

  Fellow status in Division 28, American Psychological Association

  Psi Chi Faculty Advisor Leadership Training Grant/Mortar Board's LEAD Advisor Development Program

  Grants

  "Response Contingent Behavioral Effects of Abused Solvents". Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (National Research Service Award) -- Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse (F32DA005670). Project Period: 09/01/95-06/30/97. 

  “Behavioral Studies of Opiate Tolerance and Dependence”. Role: Co-Investigator. Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse (2R01DA003796). Project Period: 07/01/2002-06/30/2004.

  “Self-administration of Abused Inhalants in Mice”. Role: Principal Investigator. Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse (1R01DA15095). Project Period: 04/01/2002-03/31/2005. 

  “A Preclinical Model of Adolescent Toluene Abuse in Rats”. Role: Principal Investigator. Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse (1R21DA019151). Project Period: 09/30/2004-08/31/2007.

  “Behavioral Effects of Gestational Inhalant Abuse in Rats”. Role: Principal Investigator. Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse (1R01DA15951). Project Period: 09/30/2002-06/30/2008.

  ”Does Repeated Toluene Alter Ethanol’s Properties”. Role: Principal Investigator. Source: Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology. Project Period: 08/02/2011-06/01/2012. 

  ”Inhaled Toluene-Produced Physical Dependence in Mice”. Role: Principal Investigator. Source: Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology. Project Period: 08/02/2013-06/01/2014.

Selected Publications

 Schifirneţ, E., Bowen, S.E., and Borszcz, G.S. (2014). Separating Analgesia from Reward within the Ventral Tegmental Area. Neuroscience, 263, 72-87. PMID: 24434773 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.01.009

 López-Rubalcava, C., Chávez-Alvarez, K., Huerta-Rivas, A.G., Páez-Martínez, N., Bowen, S.E.,  and Cruz, S.L. (2014). Long-term Behavioral Consequences of Prenatal Binge Toluene Exposure in Adolescent Rats.  Journal of Drug and Alcohol Research, 3, 1-9. http://www.ashdin.com/journals/JDAR/235841.pdf

 Apawu, A., Mathews, Tiffany, and Bowen, S.E. (2015). Striatal Dopamine Dynamics in Mice Following Acute and Repeated toluene exposure. Psychopharmacology, 232, 173-184. PMID: 24994552 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00213-014-3651-x

 Callan, S.P., Kott, J.M., Cleary, J.P., McCarthy, M.K., Baltes, B.B., Bowen, S.E. (2016). Changes in Developmental Body Weight as a Function of Toluene Exposure: A Meta-Analysis of Animal Studies. Human & Experimental Toxicology, 35(4), 341-352.  http://het.sagepub.com/content/35/4/341.full.pdf?ijkey=wnLboE8y2DeUiee&keytype=finite

Marples, B., McGee, M, Callan, S., Bowen, S.E., Thibodeau, B.J., Michael, D.B., Wilson, G.D., Maddens, M.E., Fontanesi, J., and Martinez, AA. (2016). Cranial irradiation significantly reduces beta amyloid plaques in the brain and improves cognition in a murine model of Alzheimer's disease (AD).  Radiotherapy and Oncology, 118(1), 43-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radonc.2015.10.019

Bowen, S.E., Howard, M.O. & Garland, E. L. (2016). Inhalant Use Disorders in the United States. In V.R. Preedy (Ed), Neuropathology of Drug Addictions and Substance Misuse. Academic Press (pp 931-942). http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128002124000856      

Callan, S.P., Hannigan, J.H., and Bowen, S.E. (2017). Prenatal Toluene Exposure Impairs Performance in the Morris Water Maze in Adolescent Rats. Neuroscience, 342, 180-187. PMID: 26318334. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.08.050

Howard, M.O., Bowen, S.E., & Garland, E.L. (2017).  Inhalant-related disorders.  In B.J. Sadock, V.A. Sadock, & Ruiz, P. (Eds), Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry, 10th Edition.  Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, MD.

Howard, M.O., Bowen, S.E., & Garland, E.L. (2017).  Inhalant use disorder.  In A.E. Wenzel (Ed.), Sage encyclopedia of abnormal and clinical psychology.  New York: Sage Publications.  

Bowen, S.E., Hannigan, J.H., Davidson, C. and Callan, S.P. (2018). Abstinence Following Toluene Exposure Increases Anxiety-Like Behavior in Mice. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 65, 42-50. PMID: 29292231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ntt.2017.12.010  

Currently Teaching

• Undergraduate

  Psychology 3040 - Psychology of Perception: Fundamental Processes

  Graduate

  Psychology 8560 - Methods and Models in Psychopharmacology

Courses taught

Undergraduate

Psychology 2080 - Introduction to Drugs, Behavior and Society

Psychology 3060 - Psychology of Learning and Memory: Fundamental Processes

Psychology 3120 - Brain and Behavior

Graduate

Psychology 8070 - Clinical Psychopharmacology