biological rhythms

Question 1

circadian rhythms definition

Answer 1

biological rhythms, subject to a 24 hour cycle which regulates a number of body processes such as the sleep wake cycle and changes in body temp

Question 2

what are biological rhythms

Answer 2

distinct patterns of changes in body activity that conform to cyclical time periods influenced by internal body clocks as well as external changes to environment

Question 3

ultradian rhythms

Answer 3

rhythms that occur multiple times throughout the day

Question 4

infradian rhythms

Answer 4

take longer than aday to complete eg menstral cycle is 28 days

Question 5

the sleep wake cycle

Answer 5

the fact that we feel drowsy at night time and more alert during the day is governed by the sleep wake cycle
this is maintained by exogenous zeitgebers and endogenous pacemakers
exogenous- light, we go to sleep when its dark, and social norms
endogenous- superchiasmatic nucleus- lies just above the optic chiasm which provides information about light

Question 6

what can the SCN be reset by

Answer 6

exogenous zeitgebers- light

Question 7

siffre cave study

Answer 7

spent several extended periods underground to study the effects of a lack of light change on his own biological rhythms. sleep wake cycle adjusted to 25 (believed a day was longer than it was) hours rather than 24
still went to sleep and woke up on a regular schedule

Question 8

individual differences

Answer 8

some people prefer to wake up and go to sleep earlier than others, some prefer to wake up and go to sleep later than others

Question 9

wever research

Answer 9

convinced a group of pps to spend four weeks in a ww2 bunker deprived on natural light, circadian rhythm extended to 29hrs

Question 10

strength of circadian rhythms

Answer 10

provides an understanding of adverse consequences that occur when disrupted (desynchronisation)
those who engage in night shift work are more likely to experience a period of reduced concentrtaion at around 6 in the morning
this suggets that using sleep wake research rwa can be formed

Question 11

example of an ultradian cycle

Answer 11

sleep cycle, occurs once every 90 mins when sleeping

Question 12

stage one and two of sleep cycle

Answer 12

light sleep, brain waves are high frequency and low amplitude
person may be easily woken
slight changes are called sleep spindles and wabves at this stage are alpha waves

Question 13

stages 3-4 of the sleep cycle

Answer 13

deep sleep, slow wave sleep, brain waves are less frequent and amplitude is higher. harder to wake. delta waves.

Question 14

stage 5 of the sleep cycle

Answer 14

REM (rapid eye movement) theta waves produced and eyes move around.