Biopsychology: Infradian Rhythms 2024 - 2025

Question 1

Key Term Focus

What two things are biological rhythms controlled by?

These are essential key terms

Answer 1

• Endogenous pacemakers
• Exogenous zeitgebers

These are essential key terms

Question 2

Key Term Focus

What is meant by an endogenous pacemaker?

Answer 2

Internal body clock

Question 3

Key Term Focus

What is meant by exogenous zeitgebers?

Answer 3

External factors in the environment

Question 4

Key Term Focus

What is the difference between an endogenous pacemaker and an exogenous zeitgeber?

Answer 4

• Endogenous pacemaker = internal body clock

WHEREAS

• Exogenous zeitgeber = external factor in environment

Question 5

Key Term Focus

What is an infradian rhythm?

Answer 5

A cycle that lasts longer than 24 hours

Question 6

AO1 Focus

What is an example of an infradian rhythm?

Answer 6

The female menstrual cycle

Question 7

AO1 Focus

The female menstrual cycle is an example of what type of rhythm?

Answer 7

Infradian

Question 8

AO1 Focus

Infradian rhythms are influenced by what type of factors?

Answer 8

Endogenous and exogenous factors.

Question 9

AO1 Focus

What gland in the brain releases FSH?

Answer 9

Pituitary gland

Question 10

AO1 Focus

The increase in FSH causes the release of what two events to occur;

Answer 10

• Oestrogen is released from the ovaries
• Egg matures

Question 11

AO1 Focus

What does increased oestrogen cause to also increase?

Answer 11

LH

Question 12

AO1 Focus

FSH and LH are both hormones released by what area of the brain?

Answer 12

Pituitary gland

Question 13

AO1 Focus

The increase of LH causes what to happen?

Answer 13

The release of an egg

Question 14

AO1 Focus

The increase of oestrogen what to happen?

Answer 14

Develops the lining of the womb

Question 15

AO1 Focus**

What hormone causes the lining of the womb to thicken?

Answer 15

Progesterone

Question 16

AO1 Focus

What effect does progesterone have on the lining of the womb?

Answer 16

Grows thicker

Question 17

AO1 Focus

If a female does not get pregnant, what happens to the egg?

Answer 17

It is absorbed into the body

Question 18

AO1 Focus

What are the main endogenous pacemakers involved in infradian rhythms?

Answer 18

• Pituitary gland
• Oestrogen and progesterone

Question 19

AO1 Focus

What are some examples of exogenous zeitgebers that can influence the female menstrual cycle?

Answer 19

• Light
• Stress
• Pheromones

Question 20

AO1 Focus

How can exogenous zeitgebers affect infradian rhythms?

Answer 20

They dysregulate the rhythm

Question 21

AO3 Focus

What was Russel’s procedure?

This would form the first E of your PEEL

Answer 21

• Asked a sample of women to wear cotton pads under their arm
• Rubbed on the upper lip of 5 sexual inactive women
• Repeated for 5 months

This would form the first E of your PEEL

Question 22

AO3 Focus

What were Russel’s findings?

This would form the second E of your PEEL

Answer 22

4 out of 5 women developed menstrual cycles that synchronised to within one day of the donor cycle

This would form the second E of your PEEL

Question 23

AO3 Focus

What do Russel’s findings show?

This will form part of your Link in your PEEL

Answer 23

That infradian rhythms are influenced by exogenous as well as endogenous factors

Question 24

DISCUSSION Focus

What type of experiment was Russel’s study, and what is an issue with this method?

This could act as a counter to Russel’s RTS

Answer 24

• Field experiment
• Low control over extraneous variables

This could act as a counter to Russel’s RTS

Question 25

# **DISCUSSION Focus** What is an example of an extraneous variable which Russel did **not** control? ## Footnote *This could act as a counter to Russel's RTS*

Answer 25

* Light * Diet * Stress

Question 26

# **DISCUSSION Focus** How do potential extraneous variables affect Russel's research? ## Footnote *This could act as a counter to Russel's RTS*

Answer 26

Lowers the internal validity ## Footnote *This could act as a counter to Russel's RTS*

Question 27

# **DISCUSSION Focus** Russel's research may have extraneous variables. What does this mean it is difficult to establish cause and effect **between?** ## Footnote *This could act as a counter to Russel's RTS*

Answer 27

Pheromones and mainting an infradian rhythm ## Footnote *This could act as a counter to Russel's RTS*

Question 28

# **AO3 Focus** **What** exogenous zeitgeber in infradian rhythms can be explained by evolutionary psychologists? ## Footnote *This would form the **P** of your **P**EEL*

Answer 28

Pheromones ## Footnote *This would form the **P** of your **P**EEL*

Question 29

# **AO3 Focus** **Why** would pheromones' role in infradian rhythms have been advantageous in our past? ## Footnote *This would form part of the first **E** of your P**E**EL*

Answer 29

Synchronised pregnancies so one mother could take over caring for an orphaned child ## Footnote *This would form part of the first **E** of your P**E**EL*

Question 30

# **AO3 Focus** The role of pheromones in infradian rhythms would enhance the chances of what? ## Footnote *This would form part of the second **E** of your PE**E**L*

Answer 30

Survival

Question 31

# **AO1 Focus** What can cause an infradian rhythm to become dysregulated?

Answer 31

Exogenous zeitgebers