biopsych- infradium and ultradium rhythms

Question 1

how many hours is a circadian rhythm

Answer 1

lasts for 24 hours

Question 2

how many hours does a Infradiam rhythm last

Answer 2

Infradiam rhythms are any cycles that last longer than 24 hours

Question 3

how many hours does a Ultradiam rhythm last

Answer 3

Ultradiam rhythms are any cycles that are shorter than 24 hours

Question 4

name 2 main examples of Infradiam rhythms that are mentioned in the mark scheme

Answer 4

Menstrual cycle
SAD - seasonal affective disorder

Question 5

name the main example of Ultradiam rhythm that is mentioned in the mark scheme

Answer 5

Sleep cycle

Question 6

identify and outline an example of a Infradiam rhythm

Answer 6

monthly Infradium rhythm is the female menstrual cycle.
This is regulated by hormones and ovulation occurs half way through the cycle when the oestrogen levels are the highest, this lasts between 16-32 hours. After ovulation is when the progesterone levels are the highest, which is when it’s ready for possible embryo implantation. The typical cycle is 28 days.

Question 7

name 5 external environmental stressors that affect or even stop menstrual cycles, also known as exogenous zeitgebers

Answer 7

1. Diet due to lack of nutrition
2. exercise (if you over exercise e.g. athletes)
3. Illness or disease
4. stress
5. travel due to different time zones

Question 8

name the indogenous pacemaker that is internal which regulates the menstrual cycle

Answer 8

Hormones

Question 9

identify and explain Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) as another example of a Infradian rhythm aside from the mestrual cycle

Answer 9

SAD is an another example of a Infradian rhythm does last longer than 24 hours because this is affected by seasons throughout a year.
- melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland at nights
so when there are longer nights there is an increase in melatonin secretion, which leads to increased depressive symptoms

Question 10

identify and explain an example of an Ultradian rhythm

Answer 10

Main example of an ultradian rhythm is the sleep cycle. In one cycle of sleep there’s 5 stages that lasts 90 mins, which is then repeated 4 or 5 times per night.
Stages 1 and 2 are light sleep when muscle activity and heart rate decreases, and then stage 3 is where deep sleep begins and the brain releases slow delta waves, this continues in stage 4 where proper deep sleep occurs for a longer period of time, and there’s rhythmic breathing and limited muscle activity. Stages 1-4 are non REM sleep, and then stage 5 is where REM sleep occurs and there’s rapid eye movement, and brain and heart activity increases as this stage prepares you to wake up.

Question 11

Outline and explain what is meant by infradian and ultradian rhythms

Answer 11

Infradian rhythms are biological rhythms which last longer than a cricadian rhythm which lasts 24 hours. AN example of an infradian rhythms is the female mentrual cycle that occurs typically every 28 days. Whereas is Ultradian rhythm lasts shorter than 24 hours, with a sleep cycle being a prime example because 1 cycle lasts around 90 mins, then is repeated5-5 times a night.

Question 12

evaluation of Infradian and Ultradian rhythms
para 1
research s………….
by R….erg ..67

P- usually assumed that i……….. r………… are governed by i……….. f………., but theres r……… supp…….. to suggest me………… c….. is governed also by exo………… z……………
E- R…………. examined a w………..in a cave for ? months with only a lam , and he found that her cycle sho……………. to 2….. days on average instead of 28 day menstrual cycle
L- This suggests that the l…… of lig… which is an e…………….. z…………….. in the cave, d… have an affect on her c……., demonstrating that their are e………… a……… on infradian rhythms

Answer 12

research support by Reinberg 1967
p- It is assumed that infradian rhythms are governed by internal factors, there’s research to suggest that menstrual cycles to an extent can be also governed by exogenous zeitgebers
E- e.g. Reinberg examined a woman in a cave for 3 months with only a lamp, and he found that her cycle shortened to 25.7 days on average instead of 28 day menstrual cycle
L- This suggests that the lack of light which is an exogenous zeitgeber in the cave, did have an affect on her cycle, demonstrating that their are external affects on infradian rhythms

Question 13

para 2
i………. ……………….
P- problem with studying sleep cycles is there are …………………. …………….. found in humans.
E- e.g. T…………… found ………………………………………………………………………… dur……………….. of each stage o. …….. ……….. ………, especially in……………….. ………….. ……………………………………………………………………….
E- This study was conducted in a co……………. l…………… s…………, which means that these d………………….. in s…………….. ……….. could n.. be attributed to si…………. factors, but only bi………… di………….. between ppts.
L- This means that a r………. of factors do contribute to Ultradian rhythms and these should be considered in research in order to gain a b…………. understanding

Answer 13

P- However, the problem with studying sleep cycles is there are individual differences found in humans.
E- For example, research by Tucker et al, found significant differences between ppts in terms of their duration of each stage of the sleep cycle, especially in stages 3 and 4, just before
REM sleep.
E- This study was conducted in a controlled lab setting, which means that these differences in sleep patterns could not be attributed to situation factors, but only biological differences between ppts.
L- This means that a range of factors do contribute to Ultradian rhythms and these should be considered in research in order to gain a better understanding

Question 14

para 3
But there’s also r…….. s………… for exo……….. z…………. showing they have an affect on in………. r…………
E- e.g. Ru…….. et al 19_0, found that w………… who live together m……….. c……… tend to s………….., due to o…….
E- This shows how these cycles are affected by p………… which act in a similar way to ho…….. but have an a……… to peo…. ………… ……….and not the p…….. p……….. t…..
L- Therefore, demonstrating that their should be a more idi…………. a……… by considering external factors when investigating i………….. rhythms, opposed to being reductionist and simplifying it down to only e…………… influences that affect m…………..l c………

Answer 14

P- But there’s also research support for exogenous zeitgebers showing they have an affect on infradian rhythms
E- For example, Russell et al 1980, found that women who live together and are of childbearing age, with no contraceptives, their menstrual cycles tend to synchronise, due to odour
E- This shows how these cycles are affected by pheromones which act in a similar way t o hormones but have an affect to people around them and not the person producing them.
L- Therefore, demonstrating that their should be a more idiographic approach by considering external factors when investigating infradian rhythms, opposed to being reductionist and simplifying it down to only endogenous influences that affect menstrual cycles.

Question 15

para 4
conduction of r………. may affect u…….. r…………. in humans.
e.g. s……… p…….. have to be subjected to c………l, in order to m…………. these rhythms using mon…….
But this is an i………. way which can d……… the ppts s….., lead to un……………….. fi……… as it’s not their o………….y s………. c………….
This shows how di…………. it is to investigate ultradian rhythms such as……… ……… because of the risk of drawing f………… c………., resulting in low levels of e……………. v……. in these studies

Answer 15

P- However, the way research is conducted may tell us little about Ultradian Rhythms in humans.
E- For example, investigating sleep patterns have to be subjected to control, in order to measure these rhythms using monitors.
E- But this is an invasive way which can disrupt the ppts sleep, which leads to unrepresentative findings because it is not their ordinary sleep cycle
L- This shows how difficult it is to investigate ultradian rhythms such as sleep cycle because of the risk of drawing false conclusions, resulting in low levels of ecological validity in these studies