Biological Rhythms

Question 1

why is biological rhythms important ?

Answer 1

1. important influence on way which body systems behave
2. all biological systems controlled by pacemakers which is the internal body clock

Question 2

What are biological rhythms influenced by?

Answer 2

Exogenous Zeitbgebers = external changes in environment

Question 3

Outline the difference between all three rhthyms

Answer 3

U - > 24 hours eg stages of sleep

C - lasts 24 hrs eg sleep wake cycle

I - cycle lasts < 24 hrs eg female menstrual cycle operates 28 day cycle

Question 4

Outline one example of a circadian rhythm

Answer 4

1. sleep wake cycle controlled by master endogenous pacemaker SCN
2. 👁️ notice change in 💡 as it gets dark less light received by retina
3. sends info to SCN stimulates pineal gland -> melatonin
4. 👀 detect 💡 exzt SCN reset maintains sleep wake cycle for around 24 hrs can be in syncrony w the outside world

Question 5

Give RTS for circadian rhthms

Answer 5

P - Siffre

E - isolated himself cave for 6 mnths
biological clock free running no exogenous factors affected ⏱️ 💡

E - dv consistent cycle of 25 hrs contined to fall 😴 wakeup at same time

L - mainly controlled by SCN

D - some argue lasted longer than 24 hrs exogenous factors important in maintaining cird rhytm

Question 6

Whats CA to siffre

Answer 6

P - low pop val

E - conducted case study w siffre only ppt may not be appr to GF on SWC to beyond siffre due to Indv Diff in SWC and CR

L - 👴 ppl CR slower and more easily influenced by exg zeit even in one of his replications own CR slowed

⬇️ Ext val of R into CR

Question 7

whats strength of R into circadian rhythms

Answer 7

P - PRAC APPS

E - basic principles theory circ rhythm 24 hrs maintained endg pacemakers given R’s better understanding of - conseq

E - night workers 🌚👷 more period of reduced conc arnd 6 am = mistakes more likely

L - used by employers to manage work productivity conseq improves econ

important applied psych

Question 8

Whats intro to infradian rhythms

Answer 8

1. biological rhythms that last longer than 24 hrs
2. example is female menstrual cycle oprrs 28 day cycle

Question 9

Outline example of infradian rhythm endogenous system

Answer 9

1. menstrual cycle lasts 28-35 days
2. first day of womens period womb lining shed day before next period
3. 🧠 pituiaty gland > FSH activates released oestrogen > ovaries causing egg to mature
4. oestrogen dvs lining of womb progesterone = grow thicker
5. preg ❌ occur 🥚 absorbed in body womb lining comes away cycle begins again
6. mestrual cycle can be affected by exog factors such as stress/pheromones

Question 10

Give RTC infradian rthyms

Answer 10

P - RTC infradian rhyms such as menstrual cycle governed by endog system conducted by Russel

E - sample of 🙋🏻‍♀️ wear cotton pads under 💪🏼 then rubbed pads upper 🫦 5 sex inactive women process repeated 5 months

4/5 women dvs mestrual cycle synchronised w one day of donor cycle

L - can be affected by exg factors aswell controller by endogenous factors may influence length of IR

Question 11

How can we discuss Russels R’s effect of exogenous zeitbergers

Answer 11

P - field exp

E - low control over extra v R took park in natural env

E - other exg factors such as changes in 🥗 and stress 😓 affected IR

L - diff establish cause and effect bw influences of pheromones on maintaining infradian rhythm

weaknes extent of russels R contradict importance endog pacemakers on maintaining IR

Question 12

Give a strength into R

Answer 12

P - despite methodological flaws in Infradian synchronisation R findings can be explained by evol psychs

E - wud have been advtg in our evolutionary past for social group to synchronise pregnancies so many 🙋🏻‍♀️ could be breast 🍼 at same time one mother take over caring orphaned child

L - improve chances of survival syncrhinisation of IR such as mestrual cycle adaptive strat supports exg factors influencing IR

Question 13

Define the term ultradian rythm

Answer 13

• biological rhythm that occurs more freq than once every 24 hrs (shorter than 24 hrs)

one type of stages of sleep

Question 14

How long does ultradian rythm last?

Answer 14

• 90 mins
• 5 stages of sleep alternates bw REM sleep and NREM sleep
  example body is paralysed
• known as sleep escalator/staircase person can exp 5 cycles per night repeat in rhythmic pattern

Question 15

Describe stage 1 and 2 sleep stage

Answer 15

• light sleep stage person easily woken
• stage 1 = experience alpha waves
• stage 2 = alpha waves continue occasional random changes in pattern called sleep spindles (high freq protect 🧠 from awakening)

Question 16

Describe stage 3 and 4

Answer 16

• Deep Sleep NREM
• brain waves are delta waves lower ⬇️freq + higher amplitude
• diff wake someone up at this point

Question 17

Describe Stage 5 Sleep

Answer 17

• body paralysed
• 🧠 activity closely resembles that awake of 🧠
• 🧠 = theta waves eyes occasionally move around this called REM
• dreams often experienced in this stage may also occur in deep sleep

Question 18

Give a stregnth of R ultradian rhytms

Answer 18

P - PRAC APPS in understanding age related changes in sleep

E - knowledge that growth hormone produced during stage 4 (slow wave sleep) associated w 💤 deficit in old age as R found 👴 experience less stage 4 sleep

L - medication and relaxation techs dvd to ⬆️ stage 4 💤 in older I’s prevent some issues w old age such as reduced alertness

important in applied psych

Question 19

Give second strength into UR

Answer 19

P - Scientific Methods

E - based on objective and empirical techs such as EEG’s to measure 🧠 activity controlled in lab settings

E - scientifically measure activity of 🧠 throughout 5 stages of sleep to identify length of rythm how many times rhytm occurs

L - increases psychs overall status and internal val of R

Question 20

How can we discuss R into ultradian rhythms

Answer 20

P - however R low eco val

E - conducted on artificial setting so sleep exp by ppts in these studies may not reflect genuine sleep patterns
due to-unfamiliar surroundings > attached to electrodes

L - may alter length of UR diff GF to explain how ultradian rhythms

Question 21

Define enodgenous pacemakers

Answer 21

• internal factors which help us maintain our biological rythms
• also thought that our rhythms entrained (synchronised) by exog zeitgebers such as 💡 and 🥘 times

Question 22

What are exogenous factors

Answer 22

• external factors which are in our env can influence SWC through
• entertainment such as 💡 resets SCN suggesting SWC not only influenced by endogenous pacemakers

Question 23

What social cues affect SWC

Answer 23

• meal times and social interaction
• make us less alert once we have finished our evening meal
• R suggests adapting to local eating and sleepting times before travelling diff time zones prevent jet lag
• exg zeingebers do affect SWC