Biological rhythms: Ultradian rhythms

Question 1

What are ultradian rhythms?

Answer 1

Ultradian rhythms are rhythms that last less than one day/24 hour periodicity, but they occur multiple times during the day

Question 2

How long do these 5 stages last?

Answer 2

The five stages of sleep last for a approx. 90 minutes, throughout the course of the night

Question 2

How many stages of sleep are there?

Answer 2

There are five stages of sleep

Question 3

What are stages 1 and 2 known as?

Answer 3

Stage 1 and 2 are known as light sleep, where the person is easily woken

Question 4

What occurs during stages 1 and 2?

Answer 4

Stages 1 and 2 are at the beginning of sleep, where brainwave patterns start to become slower and more rhythmic (alpha waves), becoming even slower as sleep becomes deeper (theta waves)

Question 5

What are stages 3 and 4 known as?

Answer 5

These stages are known as deep sleep or slow wave sleep

Question 6

What occurs during stages 3 and 4?

Answer 6

Stages 3 and 4 involve delta waves which are even slower. This is deep sleep and it becomes even more difficult to wake someone up at this point

Question 7

What is stage 5 known as?

Answer 7

This stage is known as REM sleep

Question 7

What occurs during stage 5?

Answer 7

During stage 5, the body is paralysed yet brain activity speeds up significantly in a manner that resembles the awake brain

Question 8

What does REM stand for?

Answer 8

REM stands for rapid eye movement to denote the fast, jerky activity of the eyes under the eyelids at this point.

Question 9

What does research suggest about REM activity?

Answer 9

Research has suggested that REM activity during sleep is highly correlated with the experience of dreaming. However not all dreaming occurs during this stage

Question 9

When do hypnogogic dreams occur?

Answer 9

Hypnogogic dreams occur during stage 1 and 2, shortly after drifting off, these dreams are where we feel out of control or falling. We often wake from these dreams with a jolt, referred to as a hypnic twitch

Question 10

Outline the research conducted into sleep patterns of 9 adults in a sleep lab

Answer 10

Dement and Kleitman monitored the sleep patterns of 9 adults in a sleep lab. Brainwave activity was recorded on an EEG and the researchers controlled for the effects of caffeine and alcohol. REM activity during sleep was highly correlated with the experience of dreaming, also participants who woke during dreaming reported very accurate recall of their dreams. Replication of these investigations noted similar findings

Question 11

What is a limitation of the research conducted into sleep patterns of 9 adults in a sleep lab?

Answer 11

The research conducted into sleep patterns of 9 adults had a small sample size which made it harder to make generalisations and apply the findings to others

Question 12

What is a strength of the research conducted into sleep patterns of 9 adults in a sleep lab?

Answer 12

This study was held in a lab setting, making the study standardised and more reliable. Other researchers have also demonstrated this study’s reliability

Question 13

When does the basic rest activity cycle (BRAC)?

Answer 13

The basic rest activity cycle occurs during waking hours

Question 14

What occurs during the basic rest activity cycle (BRAC)?

Answer 14

During the basic rest activity cycle there are periods of alertness, followed by spells of physiological fatigue occurring in a 90 minute cycle

Question 15

What evidence supports the occurrences during the basic rest activity cycle?

Answer 15

There is anecdotal evidence such as students being unable to focus for more than 90 minutes at a time. Additionally Ericsson et al found the best performers tended to practice for 3 sessions during the course of the day, with each session lasting no more than 90 mins

Question 16

What is a strength of the basic rest activity cycle (BRAC)?

Answer 16

This study has practical application in life, this allows schools to adjust their timetables/lesson to fit within the 90 minute cycle