Biological Rhythms Circadian Rhythms Evaluation

Question 1

What research supports the influence of exogenous zeitgeberes on our internal clock

Answer 1

Simon Folakard etc Al studies a group of 12 people who agreed to love in a dark cave for three weeks, retiring yo bed when the clock said 11:45pm ad rising when it said 7:45am

Over the xourse of the study, the researchers gradually speeded up the clock (unbeknown to the participants) so an apparent 24 hour day eventually lasted only 22 hours

It was revealed that only one of the participants was able to comfortable adjust to the new regime.
This would suggest the existence of a strong free- running circadian rhythm thatcannot easily be overriden by exogenous zeitgebers

Question 2

It provides an understanding of the adverse consequences that occur when they

Answer 2

One strength of rera h in circadian rhythms rhythms is that itborovides an understanding of the diverse consequences that occur when they are distrusted (desynchronisation).

For example, night workers engaged in shift work experince a period of reduced concentration around 6 in the morning (a circadian trough) meaning mistaken and accidents are are more likely (Boivin et Al. 1996).

Research has also pointed to a relationship between shift workers three times more likely to develop heart disease than people who work more typiclal patterns (Knutsson 2003)

This shows that research into the sleep/wake cycle may have real world economice implications in terms of how best to manage workers productivity

Question 3

COUNTERPOINT: shift point

Answer 3

However, studies investigating the effects of shift work tend to is correlational methods.

This means it is difficult to establish whether desynhronisation of the sleep/wake cycle it is difficult to establish whether desynchronisation of the sleep/wake cycle is actually a cause of negative effects

There may be factors. For example Charlene Solomon (1993) concluded that other influenced such as missing out on important family events

This suggests that it may not be biological factors that create the adverse consequences associated with shift work

Question 4

Circadian rhythms and medical treatments

Answer 4

Another strength of research into circadian rhythms is rather it has been used to improve medical treatments

Circadian co-ordiante a number of the body’s basic processes such as heart rate, digestion and hormone levels.
These rise and fall during the course of a diminishes in a way that corresponds to a person’s biological rhythms.
For example aspirin reduces blood platelet activity and this can reduce the risk of heart attack

Heart attacks are most likely to occur in the morning, so the timing of taking aspiring matters.
Research has supported this (e.g. Bonten et Al 2015).
This shows that circadian rhythm reserh can help increase the effectiveness of drug treatments

Question 5

Individual differences

Answer 5

One limitationbof research into circadian rhythms is that generalisations are difficult to make

The studies are asked kn very small sample of participants.
It seems that sleep/wake cycles may vary widely from perosn to perosn.
Research by Charles Czeisler et al (1999) found indiviudla differences in sleep/wake cycles varying from 13 to 65 hours. In addition a study by Jeanne Duffy et Al (2001) revealed that some people have a natural preference for going to bed early and rising early (larks) and some had a preference for the opposite (owls)

This means rhythms it is difficult to use the reserh data to discuss anything mote tha averages, which may be meaningless.