Dr Alecia Cousins

Lecturer in Psychology

Psychology

+44 (0) 1792 205678 ext 1864

a.l.cousins@swansea.ac.uk

Office - 722
Seventh Floor
Vivian Building
Singleton Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8591-2508

ResearchGate

Google Scholar

About

Dr Alecia Cousins is a Biological Psychologist and a Lecturer in Psychology. Alecia completed her PhD at Swansea University, and her research specialises in Hydration and Nutrition across the lifespan, and how this can influence psychological and physical function. More specifically, she has explored how changes in hydration status, through dehydration and water supplementation, interact and influence psychological function i.e. mood, attention, reaction time, memory. Further research in collaboration with colleagues from the School of Medicine has explored how dehydration influences cardiovascular function in an ageing population. Alecia is also the co-lead of the UK Reproducibility Network in Swansea.

Alecia teaches on a number of undergraduate modules including Cognition I: Basic processes, Biological Psychology, Nutrition and Behaviour.

Areas Of Expertise

Hydration
Nutrition
Ageing
Vascular function
Health behaviours
Impulsivity

Career Highlights

Research

SNAC: The Swansea Nutrition, Appetite and Cognition Group.

UKRN Swansea: UK Reproducibility Network Swansea, is a research group as part of the national network, which focuses on promoting open and reproducible science across the UK.

Award Highlights

Publications

Research Highlights

Llewellyn, M., Cousins, A., & Tyson, P. (2022). ‘When you have the adrenalin pumping, it kind of flushes out any negative emotions’: a qualitative exploration of the benefits of playing football for people with mental health difficulties. Journal of Mental Health, 31(2), 172-179.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2020.1793119, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62357
Lancastle, D., Hill, J., Faulkner, S., & Cousins, A. (2022). “The stress can be unbearable, but the good times are like finding gold”: A phase one modelling survey to inform the development of a self-help positive reappraisal coping intervention for caregivers of those with autism spectrum disorder. PLOS ONE, 17(3), e0264837
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264837, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62356
Cousins, A., Young, H., Thomas, A., & Benton, D. (2019). The Effect of Hypo-Hydration on Mood and Cognition Is Influenced by Electrolyte in a Drink and Its Colour: A Randomised Trial. Nutrients, 11(9), 2002
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11092002, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa51537
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu11092002
Young, H., Cousins, A., Johnston, S., Fletcher, J., Benton, D., Young, H., Cousins, A., & Benton, D. (2019). Autonomic adaptations mediate the effect of hydration on brain functioning and mood: Evidence from two randomized controlled trials. Scientific Reports, 9(1)
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-52775-5, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52886
Torrance, J., Roderique-Davies, G., Torrance, J., Bhairon, T., Cousins, A., & John, B. (2020). Embedded Gambling Promotion in Football: An Explorative Study of Cue-Exposure and Urge to Gamble. Journal of Gambling Studies, 36(3), 1013-1025.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-020-09949-y, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62354

All Research

Journal Articles

Young, H., Cousins, A., Byrd-Bredbenner, C., Benton, D., Gershon, R., Ghirardelli, A., Latulippe, M., Scholey, A., & Wagstaff, L. (2024). Alignment of Consumers’ Expected Brain Benefits from Food and Supplements with Measurable Cognitive Performance Tests. Nutrients, 16(12), 1950
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16121950, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68070
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu16121950
Norris, J., Tales, A., Badger, J., Cousins, A., & Richards, E. (2024). Autistic Trait Level and Reaction Time in Older Adults: The Influence of Sex and Task upon Study Outcome. Autism in Adulthood, 0
https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2023.0120, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66907
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/aut.2023.0120
Randall, T., Cousins, A., Neilson, L., Price, M., Hardman, C., & Wilkinson, L. (2024). Sustainable food consumption across Western and Non-Western cultures: A scoping review considering the theory of planned behaviour. Food Quality and Preference, 114, 105086
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2023.105086, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65396
Llewellyn, M., Cousins, A., & Tyson, P. (2022). ‘When you have the adrenalin pumping, it kind of flushes out any negative emotions’: a qualitative exploration of the benefits of playing football for people with mental health difficulties. Journal of Mental Health, 31(2), 172-179.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2020.1793119, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62357
Lancastle, D., Hill, J., Faulkner, S., & Cousins, A. (2022). “The stress can be unbearable, but the good times are like finding gold”: A phase one modelling survey to inform the development of a self-help positive reappraisal coping intervention for caregivers of those with autism spectrum disorder. PLOS ONE, 17(3), e0264837
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264837, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62356
Bowers, D., Morgan, K., Abbott, L., Fishleigh, L., Cousins, A., & Taylor, R. (2020). User perceptions of powered wheelchair features.. Technology, Mind, and Behavior, 1(2)
https://doi.org/10.1037/tmb0000011, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62355
Torrance, J., Roderique-Davies, G., Torrance, J., Bhairon, T., Cousins, A., & John, B. (2020). Embedded Gambling Promotion in Football: An Explorative Study of Cue-Exposure and Urge to Gamble. Journal of Gambling Studies, 36(3), 1013-1025.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-020-09949-y, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62354
Young, H., Cousins, A., Johnston, S., Fletcher, J., Benton, D., Young, H., Cousins, A., & Benton, D. (2019). Autonomic adaptations mediate the effect of hydration on brain functioning and mood: Evidence from two randomized controlled trials. Scientific Reports, 9(1)
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-52775-5, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52886
Cousins, A., Young, H., Thomas, A., & Benton, D. (2019). The Effect of Hypo-Hydration on Mood and Cognition Is Influenced by Electrolyte in a Drink and Its Colour: A Randomised Trial. Nutrients, 11(9), 2002
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11092002, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa51537
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu11092002

Supervision

The role of Taurine and 'peak focus' supplementation in the cognitive health of older adults in the context of plant-based diets. (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Hayley Young

Taught Modules

PSA111 Cognition I: Basic Processes

The module introduces key theoretical and methodological issues in two main areas of cognitive psychology: Attention, and Perception. Following a historical review of cognitive psychology, the students are introduced to research topics surrounding each of these areas of cognition. The module will introduce students to the different methodologies used during the past 50 years to study cognition and later concentrate on discussing the basic perceptual and attentional processes. This module also explores in more depth the current research topics and the rigorous scientific debates surrounding these areas of cognition. The module will concentrate on the way modern methodologies can be used to probe mental capabilities and discover facts about the way our brains receive, process and act upon information from different sensory modalities.
PSA113 Biological Psychology

This module provides an introduction to biological psychology and the influence of the biological approach on the wider discipline of psychology. Through a series of lectures and tutorials this module will consider the structure and function of the brain and central nervous system and how they underpin human behaviour. The importance of understanding the role of hormones and neurotransmitters on physiology and behaviour as well as the biological basis of individual differences will be covered. These fundamental elements will be explored through by key topics such as emotions, motivated behaviour, language, sleep, learning and memory, and schizophrenia. The importance of understanding evolutionary psychology and gene environment interactions will also be integrated throughout the module.
PSY111 Cognition I: Basic Processes

The module introduces key theoretical and methodological issues in two main areas of cognitive psychology: Attention and Perception. Following a historical review of cognitive psychology, the students are introduced to research topics surrounding each of these areas of cognition. The module will introduce students to the different methodologies used during the past 50 years to study cognition and later concentrate on discussing the basic perceptual and attentional processes. This module also explores in more depth the current research topics and the rigorous scientific debates surrounding these areas of cognition. The module will concentrate on the way modern methodologies can be used to probe mental capabilities and discover facts about the way our brains receive, process and act upon information from different sensory modalities.
PSY113 Biological Psychology

This module provides an introduction to biological psychology and the influence of the biological approach on the wider discipline of psychology. Through a series of lectures and tutorials this module will consider the structure and function of the brain and central nervous system and how they underpin human behavior. The importance of understanding the role of hormones and neurotransmitters on physiology and behavior as well as the biological basis of individual differences will be covered. These fundamental elements will be explored through key topics such as emotions, motivated behavior, language, sleep, learning and memory, and schizophrenia. The importance of understanding evolutionary psychology and gene environment interactions will also be integrated throughout the module.
PSY351 Nutrition and Behaviour

After initially discussing both macro- and micro-nutrients their roles in the development of the brain and their influence on mood and cognition will be examined. The influence of diet at different stages of the entire life cycle will be considered: in particular in the early stages when the brain is developing and in the aging process. Specifically their role in the development of dementia will be discussed.

Career History

Research Assistant, University of South Wales

2018 - Present
Research Assistant, Swansea University

2017 - 2018

Invited Presentations, Lectures and Conferences

American Society of Nutrition Annual conference

2018

Boston, MA.
British Feeding and Drinking Group Annual conference

2018

Lyon, France
British Society of Gerontology

2017

Swansea, UK
British Feeding and Drinking Group Annual conference

2017

Reading, UK

Key Grants and Projects

Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutritional Science 2023

, with Associate Professor Hayley Young, £5,000

Dr Alecia Cousins

Telephone number

Email address

Twitter Account

LinkedIn Account

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Career Highlights

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Journal Articles

Supervision

The role of Taurine and 'peak focus' supplementation in the cognitive health of older adults in the context of plant-based diets. (current)

Taught Modules

PSA111 Cognition I: Basic Processes

PSA113 Biological Psychology

PSY111 Cognition I: Basic Processes

PSY113 Biological Psychology

PSY351 Nutrition and Behaviour

Career History

Research Assistant, University of South Wales

Research Assistant, Swansea University

Invited Presentations, Lectures and Conferences

American Society of Nutrition Annual conference

British Feeding and Drinking Group Annual conference

British Society of Gerontology

British Feeding and Drinking Group Annual conference

Key Grants and Projects

Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutritional Science 2023