Alexandria M. Reynolds- MA, PhD
- Undergraduate Program Director at University of South Carolina
Alexandria M. Reynolds
- MA, PhD
- Undergraduate Program Director at University of South Carolina
About
28
Publications
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Citations
Introduction
I am the Undergraduate Program Director for the Psychology Department at The University of South Carolina. My research interests include sleep and cognition.
Current institution
Additional affiliations
August 2015 - August 2022
August 2022 - present
Education
August 2009 - August 2015
August 2009 - May 2012
August 2002 - May 2006
Publications
Publications (28)
The common assumption that population sleep duration has declined in the past few decades has not been supported by recent reviews, which have been limited to self-reported data. The aim of this review was to assess whether there has been a reduction in objectively recorded sleep duration over the last 50+ years. The literature was searched for stu...
Epidemiologic studies have consistently shown an association of long sleep (≥8 hr) with mortality and multiple morbidities. However, there has been little experimental investigation of the effects of sleep extension. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of time in bed (TIB) extension, on depression, anxiety, sleepiness, and systemic inf...
Many studies have examined motor impairments using voxel-based lesion symptom mapping, but few are reported regarding the corresponding relationship between cerebral cortex injury and lower limb motor impairment analyzed using this technique. This study correlated neuronal injury in the cerebral cortex of 16 patients with chronic stroke based on a...
Purpose
Several studies have shown that aerobic exercise training improves obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity. However, a dose-response relationship has never been shown. This study aimed to quantify any dose-response relationships between time spent per week in aerobic exercise and key sleep apnea outcomes.
Methods
Randomized controlled trial...
Objectives To determine the feasibility for middle-aged and older adults to extend their time in bed by 2 h per night for 3 consecutive weeks. Other aims were to examine the effects of sleep extension on mood, cognitive performance, and cardiovascular health.
Methods Ten healthy middle-aged to older adults (9 women; M = 65.20 ± 4.78 years) who repo...
Introduction
There is a significant amount of research which suggests that college students who exhibit poor sleep quality tend to have worse academic performance. Additionally, studies have shown correlations between stress levels and academic performance. In the current study, it was expected that college students with higher stress levels and lo...
Introduction
College students are notorious for inconsistent sleep schedules and poor sleep hygiene, which can influence mental health and academic success. Many intervention programs seek to improve college student sleep quality by educating them on the importance of sleep and healthy sleep behaviors; however, it remains an open question whether p...
This White Paper addresses the current gaps in knowledge, as well as opportunities for future studies in pediatric sleep. The Sleep Research Society's Pipeline Development Committee assembled a panel of experts tasked to provide information to those interested in learning more about the field of pediatric sleep, including trainees. We cover the sco...
Introduction
Typically, college students practice unhealthy sleep hygiene behaviors, obtain too little sleep, and experience poor sleep quality. Sleep hygiene includes the routines or practices that prepare a person for the best possible night of sleep. Good sleep hygiene habits, like creating a sleep-friendly environment and making time for sleep,...
Introduction
College students often struggle to adjust to the demanding nature of college life, which can translate to decreased overall health and poor sleep. Healthy sleep practices are important for obtaining good sleep quality and quantity, leading to optimal cognitive performance. Interventions, including educational approaches to improve slee...
Introduction
College students tend to struggle with managing healthy sleep habits; these unhealthy behaviors can lead to poor sleep and impact their overall mental and physical health. More specifically, sleep is intimately connected to psychological and physiological factors such as anxiety, depression, and blood pressure. The focus of the current...
Introduction
There is considerable research demonstrating poor sleep patterns in college students; however, few studies actually examine sleep stability over a typical undergraduate career. Considering that the transition to college involves significant shifts in independence and potentially creating a foundation of lifelong behavioral patterns, it...
Introduction
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent consequence of combat with significant associated morbidity. Available treatments for PTSD have had limitations, suggesting a need to explore alternative or adjuvant treatments. Numerous rationales for bright light treatment of PTSD include its benefits for common PTSD comorbidities...
Introduction
The relationship between anxiety and blood pressure has been previously examined across several fields. While anxiety has not been found to necessarily cause high blood pressure, it has been shown to cause sharp increases when high levels of acute anxiety are present Additionally, sleep duration has been shown to impact mood states and...
Introduction
There has been extensive research conducted on the effects of sleep factors on cognitive performance. The goal of the current study was to examine the relationship between sleep and cognition in college-aged students.
Methods
Twelve undergraduate students (5 males), average age M = 19.42 years, wore actigraph sleep monitors for one we...
Introduction
Epidemiological studies have long established that sleep duration and cardiovascular health are related. Additionally, studies have shown that mood, stress, cognitive performance, and sleep are intimately tied together. Some studies have shown gender differences in certain sleep factors, but these differences are not consistent. Additi...
Introduction
Studies have shown that college students regularly do not obtain the suggested hours of sleep. Undergraduates have been shown to have poor sleep hygiene, despite having adequate knowledge about sleep. Sleep habits and quality can coincide with depression and other internalizing symptoms. Improper sleep practices could contribute to poo...
Introduction
Previous research has found that individuals who do not practice healthy sleep hygiene are more likely to have poorer sleep quality, which has a negative influence on performance and academic success. Sleep hygiene is comprised of several factors, including living arrangements and caffeine intake, which influence college students’ slee...
Introduction
Previous research shows that women tend to report greater daytime sleepiness as compared to men, which may be due to hormonal influences. Although not well-studied, academic major may also impact sleep. Recent research has shown that students who were science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors reported poorer sleep...
Introduction:
Mental health-related problems are a significant cause of attrition during basic combat training (BCT). Evidence in civilian populations suggests that physical fitness is associated with psychological benefits in civilians, but little is known about the association between physical fitness and psychological adjustment during BCT.
Me...
Circadian rhythm sleep disorders are commonly observed in many neurological conditions. Sleep-related problems such as insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, and fragmented sleep are commonly found in diseases and conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, cerebral palsy, and migraine headaches. Lesions to the suprachiasmatic nu...
There are emerging links between disturbed sleep and mental illness. These associations may have particular relevance for military populations which are often faced with extremely stressful situations and profound sleep deprivation. Indeed, disturbed sleep has been predictive of mental illness following exposure to trauma, and, conversely, treatmen...
Questions
Questions (4)
In the past, I've always used BDI-II for a self-reported depression scale, but I'm currently looking for a self-report inventory that does not ask questions about suicide. I've come across the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), which looks like a good fit, but I wanted to check to make sure others recommend this scale. There appears to be a more recent revised version, but it has questions about harm and suicide. I appreciate your feedback!
Hello! I am scheduled to teach a Selected Topics undergraduate course in the Spring 2015 semester, and I would like to teach a course on Sleep and the Psychology of Sleep. I would like to know if anyone has any book recommendations? I would like to cover basic lecture material including the biology of sleep, sleep disorders, circadian rhythms, dreaming, sleep measurement, etc. If you have come across a really excellent book, I would really appreciate some recommendations! Thank you!
