Bio Rhythms

Question 1

What are bio rhythms?

Answer 1

They are any internal process that run on a cycle.

Question 2

What are the 3 main types of Biorhythms?

Answer 2

1. circadian
2. ultradian
3. infradian

Question 3

What are Circadian Rhythms?

Answer 3

Rhythms that only happen once per day (e.g. sleep/wake cycle).

Question 4

What are Ultradian Rhythms?

Answer 4

Rhythms that happen more than once per day (stages of sleep).

Question 5

What are Infradian Rhythms?

Answer 5

Rhythms that happen less than once per day (Menstural Cycle)

Question 6

What are the two things that biorhythms controlled by?

Answer 6

1. Endogenous Pacemakers
2. Exogenous Zeitgebers

Question 7

What are Endogenous pacemakers?

Answer 7

They are any internal mechanisms that regulates any biorhythm. Can be a part of the brain, or a gland that secretes hormones etc.

Question 8

What are Exogenous Zeitgebers?

Answer 8

They are any external mechanism that regulates our biorhythms, usually work by triggering the EPs. e.g. light, temperature and social cues.

Question 9

What are some examples of Endogenous Pacemakers?

Answer 9

1. The super charismatic nucleus (SCN) which is a tiny cluster of nerve cells int eh hypothalamus.
2. The Pineal Gland and Melatonin.

Question 10

What is the SCN responsible for?

Answer 10

Responsible for circadian rhythms and controlling all of the biorhythms - a clock that resets every day to keep everything in order.

Question 11

How does the SCN link to light?

Answer 11

Light hits the optic nerve which goes to the SCN every morning. This resets the SCN’s cycle and tells the Pineal gland to produce less melatonin to wake us up and therefore both are reliant on Exogenous Zeitgebers (light).