Biological Rhythms - BIOPSYCHOLOGY Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

Biological Rhythms

(Circadian rhythms)

A

All living organisms have them

Changes in body processes across a time period

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

2 Example of Circadian rhythms

+ describe the less important one

A

-rhythms lasting 24 hours

-sleep/wake cycle

-Temperature
Highest at 6pm
Helps coordinate heart rate, digestion and hormones
High temperature = improved cognition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Endo: Suprachiasmatic nucleus

A

-Nerve fibres connected to eyes cross over in area called optic chiasm (located in hypothalamus)
-SCN lies just above this and recieves info of light directly from here
- Continues even when our eyes are closed, enabling biological clock to ajust to light patterns when we are asleep

(passes light info onto the pineal gland
(-The pineal gland then increases production of Melatonin (when there is little light) - a chemical that induces sleep))

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Endo: pineal glans and Melatonin

A

SCN passes info on day length and light to Pineal gland

During night, pineal gland produces Melatonin

Melatonin makes sleep more ‘inviting’ (induces sleep)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Exo: Light

A

Can reset SCN

Indirectly Inhibits production of Melatonin present

(also indirectly influences hormone secretion and blood circulation)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Exo: social cues

A

Schedules set by parents to entrain babies e.g: eating, sleeping

-babies have random cycles until 16 months old when they are entrained

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Infradian rhythm

A

Frequency of less than 1 in 24 hrs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

The menstrual cycle

A

Governed by monthly changes hormones.
Cycle refers to first day of woman’s period when wall lining is shed to day before her next period.
Cycle takes around 28 days .

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Is the Menstrual cycle an endogenous system

A

Yes, by oestrogen and other hormones. although some psychologist argues that it is effected by exogenous zietgebers such as other women’s cycles (pheromones)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Seasonal affective disorder

A

Depressive disorder. Has seasonal pattern of onset.
Symptoms are persistent low moods

During night, pineal gland secretes Melatonin until daylight shows. During winter there is a lack of light. This is thought to affect the production of seratonin- a chemical linked to depression

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Ultradian rhythms

A

Frequency of more than 1 in 24 hrs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Sleep cycle

A

5 distinct stages
-occour within around 90 minutes
-each stage characterised via different levels of brainwave activity measured using an EEG

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the 5 stages of The sleep cycle

A

1, 2, light sleep
3, 4, deep sleep
5:REM

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Stages 1 and 2 of sleep cycle

A

-light sleep, person easily woken
-brainwaves slower and more rhythmic(alpha waves)
Becoming even slower as sleep becomes deeper (Theta waves)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Stages 3 and 4 of sleep cycle

A

-delta waves
-even slower, greater amplitude
-hard to wake someone up

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Stage 5 of sleep cycle

A

REM sleep
-body is paralysed
-brain activity speeds up to that of an awake brain
-linked to dreaming

17
Q

Who re-surfaced from a cave in mid-September 1962 believing it to be mid-August?

A

Michael Siffre

18
Q

Who found that participants living in a WW2 bunker for 4 weeks had a circadian rhythm between 24-25 hours?

A

Aschoff and Wever

19
Q

Who sped up a clock for a 22 hour day and found participants could not cope with the change?

A

Folkard et al

20
Q

Who found that they could alter women’s menstrual cycles by rubbing the pheromones of another woman onto their top lip?

A

Stern + McClintock

21
Q

Who found that they could alter sleep patterns of participants by shining lights on the backs of their knees?

A

Campbell + Murphy

22
Q

Folkard (1977)

temperature study

aims + procedure

A
  • Was interested in cognitive ability and its association with body temperature - Read children stories at 3pm and 9am
23
Q

Folkard (1977)

temperature study

Findings

A

Children were much more able to recall and understand information from stories read to them at 3pm

24
Q

Aims of Siffre’s study

A

to study the effects on Endogenous pacemakers on his 24 hr sleep cycle

25
Q

procedure of Siffre’s study

A

the effects on his rhythms - In 1962 he spent 2 months in a cave - In 1972 he spent 6 months in a cave

No light

26
Q

Findings + of Siffre’s study

A

in 1962 he resurfaced after 2 months in a cave believing it to be mid August when it was mid September

He always woke and slept in a regular cycle

27
Q

conclusions of Siffre’s study

A

Endogenous pacemakers do govern the sleep wake cycle

28
Q

Aschoff + Wever study

procedure

A

Convinced a group of participants to spend 4 weeks in a WWII bunker deprived of natural light

29
Q

Aschoff + Wever findings

A

All but one (whose sleep/wake cycle was 29 hours) displayed a circadian rhythm between 24-25 hours rather than 24 hours exactly