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Dr Turner, John

Contact details

Position: Principal Lecturer

Location: AE.2.12, Stratford

Telephone: +44 (0)20 8223 4462

Contact address:

School of Psychology
The University of East London
Stratford Campus
Water Lane
London
E15 4LZ

Brief biography

After completing a first degree in Neuroscience at City of London Polytechnic, I studied towards a PhD at the Institute of Psychiatry, in South London, before joining the Psychology School here at UEL in 1994. My teaching and interests are predominantly within the biopsychological domain; in a range of areas including Psychopharmacology, Health and Evolutionary Psychology.

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Activities and responsibilities

  • Module leader for PY2011 Drugs and Behaviour
  • PhD Supervision (4 students at present)
  • Equality and Diversity Leader for the School of Psychology
  • Member of School of Psychology Board

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Areas of Interest/Summary of Expertise

  • Recreational drug effects on cognition, health/mental health, motivated behaviours (including MDMA/Ecstasy, cannabis, ketamine, alcohol and nicotine)
  • Acute and sub-acute effects of antidepressant medications
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Psychoimmunology
  • Biological factors in health and mental health (esp. depression and anxiety)

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Teaching: Programmes

  • BSc Psychology
  • Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology

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Teaching: Modules

  • PY1005: Skills for Psychologists
  • PY2011: Drugs and Behaviour
  • PY3000: Professional Psychological Studies
  • PY3006: Health Psychology
  • PY3014: Evolutionary Psychology

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Current research and publications

Research Open Access Repository (ROAR@UEL)

http://roar.uel.ac.uk/view/creators/Turner=3AJohn=3A=3A.default.html

Peer-reviewed Journal Articles
  1. Dawkins, L., Turner, J., Roberts, A., & Soar, K. (2013). ‘Vaping’ profiles and preferences: an online survey of electronic cigarette users. Addiction. doi:10.1111/add.12150
  2. Dawkins, L., Turner, J., & Crowe, E. (2013). Nicotine derived from the electronic cigarette improves time-based prospective memory in abstinent smokers. Psychopharmacology. Advance online publication. doi:10.1007/s00213-013-2983-2
  3. Dawkins, L., Turner, J., Hasna, S., & Soar, K. (2012). The electronic-cigarette: effects on desire to smoke, withdrawal symptoms and cognition. Addictive Behaviors, 37(8), 970–973. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2012.03.004
  4. Moore, D. G., Turner, J. D., Parrott, A. C., Goodwin, J. E., Fulton, S. E., Min, M. O., … Singer, L.T. (2010). During pregnancy, recreational drug-using women stop taking ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine) and reduce alcohol consumption, but continue to smoke tobacco and cannabis: initial findings from the Development and Infancy Study. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 24(9), 1403–1410. doi:10.1177/0269881109348165
  5. Soar, K., Parrott, A., & Turner, J. (2009). Attributions for psychobiological changes in ecstasy/MDMA and other polydrug users. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 23(7), 745–758. doi:10.1177/0269881108092594

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Research archive

Peer-reviewed Journal Articles
  1. Soar, K., Turner, J.J.D., & Parrott, A.C. (2006). Problematic versus non-problematic ecstasy use: premorbid disposition and psychopathological measures. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 20(3), 417–424. doi:10.1177/0269881106063274
  2. Milani, R.M., Parrott, A.C., & Turner, J.J.D. (2004). Gender differences in self-reported anxiety, depression and somatization among ecstasy/MDMA polydrug users, alcohol-tobacco users, and non-drug users [Abstract]. National Drug Treatment Conference, London, March30.
  3. Milani, R.M., Parrott, A.C., Turner, J.J.D., & Fox, H.C. (2004). Gender differences in self-reported anxiety, depression, and somatization among ecstasy/MDMA polydrug users, alcohol/tobacco users, and nondrug users. Addictive Behaviors, 29(5), 965–971. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2004.02.044
  4. Fox, H.C., Braddick, F.M.B., Toplis, A.S., Axelsson, E.L., Turner, J.J.D., & Parrott, A.C. (2003). Ecstasy polydrug users show markedly similar cognitive neuropsychobiological profiles to normal healthy volunteers with artificially reduced 5-HT systems. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 17, 34.
  5. Parrott, A.C., Fox, H.C., Milani, R.M., Soar, K., & Turner, J.J.D. (2003). Polydrug use amongst recreational ecstasy/MDMA users. Proceedings of the British Psychological Society, 12, 258.
  6. Soar, K., Fox, H.C., Turner, J.J.D., & Parrott, A.C. (2003). The relationship between problematic ecstasy use, dosage, and the serotonin syndrome. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 17, 34.
  7. Fox, H.C., McLean, A., Turner, J.J.D., Parrott, A.C., Rogers, R., & Sahakian, B.J. (2002). Neuropsychological evidence of a relatively selective profile of temporal dysfunction in drug free MDMA (“ecstasy”) polydrug users. Psychopharmacology, 162(2), 203–214. doi:10.1007/s00213-002-1071-9
  8. Fox, H.C., Parrott, A.C., & Turner, J.J.D. (2001). Ecstasy use: cognitive deficits related to dosage rather than self reported problematic use of the drug. Psychopharmacology, 15(4), 273–281. doi:10.1177/026988110101500406
  9. Fox, H.C., Toplis, A.S., Turner, J.J.D., & Parrott, A.C. (2001). Auditory verbal learning in drug-free recreational ecstasy polydrug users. Human Psychopharmacology, 16, 613–618. doi:10.1002/hup.344
  10. Fox, H.C., Milani, R.M., Parrott, A.C., & Turner, J.J.D. (2001). Heightened impulsivity, anger and hostility may be associated with multiple dosing over several hours in ecstasy polydrug users. British Association for Psychopharmacology Annual Conference, Harrogate, July. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 15, a37.
  11. Fox, H.C., Toplis, A.S., Parrott, A.C., Turner, J.J.D., & Andrews, T.K. (2001). Aspects of learning in drug-free recreational ecstasy polydrug users [Abstract]. Fifth Endo-Neuro Meeting of the Netherlands Society for Endocrinology and Dutch Neurofederation, Doorwerth Netherlands, June155.
  12. Milani, R.M., Parrott, A.C., & Turner, J.J.D. (2001). Gender differences in self-reported psychiatric symptoms from a sample of ecstasy (MDMA) polydrug users, legal drug users, and non-drug users. British Association for Psychopharmacology Annual Conference, Harrogate, July. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 15, a37.
  13. Parrott, A.C., Milani, R.M., Parmar, R., & Turner, J.J.D. (2001). Recreational ecstasy/MDMA and other drug users from the UK and Italy: psychiatric symptoms and psychobiological problems. Psychopharmacology, 159(1), 77–82. doi:10.1007/s002130100897
  14. Peppas, E., Turner, J.J.D., & Parrott, A.C. (2001). Memory decrements but trends towards faster mental rotation in abstinent ecstasy/MDMA users. British Association for Psychopharmacology Annual Conference, Harrogate, July. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 15, a37.
  15. Soar, K., Turner, J.J.D., & Parrott, A.C. (2001). Psychiatric disorders in ecstasy (MDMA) users: a literature review focusing upon personal predispositions and drug histories. Human Psychopharmacology, 16, 641–645. doi:10.1002/hup.350
  16. Turner, J.J.D. (2000). Glass ceilings in evolutionary psychology. Psychology, Evolution and Gender, 2, 1. doi:10.1080/14616660050082933
  17. Turner, J.J.D., & Parrott, A.C. (2000). “Is MDMA a human neurotoxin?” contrasting views from the discussants. Neuropsychobiology, 42, 42–48.doi:10.1159/000026669
  18. Malson, H., & Turner, J.J.D. (1999). Apes, genes, state troopers, fighting knights and fainting damsels: a feminist Foucauldian perspective on (some characters in) evolutionary psychologies and gender. Psychology, Evolution and Gender, 1(2).
  19. Parrott, A.C., Sisk, E., & Turner, J.J.D. (1999). Psychiatric problems in heavy ecstasy (MDMA) recreational polydrug users. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 13(3, a24).
  20. Turner, J.J.D., Godolphin, M., & Parrott, A.C. (1999). Cognitive task performance profiles of current and former ecstasy (MDMA) users. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 13(3, a24).
  21. Parrott, A.C., Lasky, J., & Turner, J.J.D. (1998). Ecstasy (MDMA): acute effects upon memory recall and visual scanning in recreational drug users. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 12(3, a42).
  22. Turner, J.J.D., Nicholas, L., & Parrott, A.C. (1998). Reduced calorie intake in the week following weekend MDMA (ecstasy) use. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 13(3, a36).
  23. Turner, J.J.D., Juby, K., & Parrott, A.C. (1998). Spatial and object recognition performance of regular MDMA users assessed in virtual reality. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 12(3, a42).
  24. Hodges, H., Sowinski, P., Turner, J.J., & Fletcher, A. (1996). Comparison of the effects of the 5-HT3 receptor antagonists WAY-100579 and ondansetron on spatial learning. Psychopharmacology, 125(2), 146–161. doi:10.1007/BF02249414
  25. Turner, J.J., Hodges, H., & Gray, J.A. (1992). How symmetrical are the dose-related effects of agonists and inverse agonists at the GABA-Benzodiazepine receptor complex? Cahiers de Psychologie Cognitive — The European Bulletin of Cognitive Psychology, 12, 555–565.
  26. Turner, J.J., Hodges, H., Sinden, J.D., & Gray, J.A. (1992). Comparison of radial maze performance after ibotenate and quisqualate lesions of the forebrain cholinergic projection system: effects of pharmacological challenge and changes in training regime. Behavioural Pharmacology, 3, 359–373. doi:10.1097/00008877-199208000-00012
Non-peer-reviewed Journal Articles
  1. Fox, H.C., Turner, J.J.D., & Parrott, A.C. (2003). Prepulse inhibition in abstaining MDMA (ecstasy) users. Adiktologie, 2.
  2. Parrott,  A.C., Sisk, E., & Turner,  J.J.D. (2000). Psychiatric problems in recreational. Drug & Alcohol Dependence, 60, 105–110. doi:10.1016/S0376-8716(99)00146-5
  3. Turner, J.J.D. (1999). Is ecstasy a human neurotoxin? Novartis Foundation Bulletin, 52, 14–15.
Book Chapters
  1. Hodges, H., Sinden, J.D., Turner, J.J., Netto, C.A., Sowinski, P., & Gray, J.A. (1992). Nicotine as a tool to assess the role of the cholinergic forebrain projection system in cognition. In A.C. Collins, J.A. Gray, J.H. Robinson & P.M. Lipiello (Eds.), The Biology of Nicotine (pp. 157–180): New York: Raven Press.
Conference Papers
  1. Singer, L.T., Farkas, K., Fulton, S., Min, M.O., Linares, T.J., Parrott, A.C., et al. (2004). Prenatal exposure to MDMA (ecstasy) and other ‘recreational’ drugs: initial findings. Paper presented at the International Society on Infant Studies 14th Biennial International Conference on Infant Studies, Chicago.
  2. Turner, J.J.D., Parrott, A.C., Moore, D.G., Goodwin, J.E., Axelsson, E.L., Braddick, F.M.B., et al. (2004). DAISY: the Development and Infancy Study. Paper presented at the International Society on Infant Studies 14th Biennial International Conference on Infant Studies, Chicago, May 2004.

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