people | academic and research staff | support staff | PhD students

Jessica Smith

3rd Year Postgraduate

Supervisor: Professor Peter Rogers

telephone: +44 (0)117 95 46620 email: js3442@bristol.ac.uk

Room 1.3, 5 Priory Road

Biographical Details

I graduated from the University of Bristol with a BSc(Hons) in Experimental Psychology. My final year project investigated the single and interactive effects of two constituents of tea; caffeine and l-theanine, on blood pressure, mood and cognitive performance. I subsequently worked for Unilever at the company’s research and development centre (Colworth Science Park) on a similar research project. I have now undertaken an industry funded PhD with the aim of further exploring the effects of caffeine and l-theanine.

Research Interests

My research interests concern the relationship between nutrition, the brain and behaviour. More specifically, my doctoral research focuses on the neurocognitive and neurobiological effects of caffeine and l-theanine, particularly in relation to stress and anxiety. Using a combination of behavioural and neuroimaging techniques I aim to explore the psychopharmacology of these two constituents of tea and elucidate the mechanisms that underpin their effects.


Publications



Rogers, P. J., Smith, J. E., Heatherley, S. V., & Pleydell-Pearce, C. W. (2008). Time for tea: mood, blood pressure and cognitive performance effects of caffeine and theanine administered alone and together. Psychopharmacology, 195, 569-577

Conference Presentations

Smith, J. E., & Rogers, P. J. (2008). ‘Caffeine and Theanine on the Brain’. University of Bristol Ingestion Group Away Day. University of Bristol, 7th November.

Smith, J. E. & Rogers, P. J. (2008). ‘When Caffeine met CUBRIC; An fMRI and EEG study of the neurocognitive effects of caffeine.’ Bristol and Cardiff University Young Neuroscience Day. Cardiff University, 22nd October.

Smith, J. E., & Rogers, P. J. (2008). ‘An fMRI and EEG study of the neurocognitive effects of caffeine.’ Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre Operational Group Approval Meeting. Cardiff University, 25th September.

Smith, J. E., & Rogers, P. J. (2008). ‘Time for Tea’. University of Bristol Annual PG Conference. University of Bristol, 27th June.

people | academic and research staff | support staff | PhD students