Biopsychology: Infradian Rhythms

Question 1

Infradian rhythm

Answer 1

Any cycle lasting more than 24 hours

Question 2

Example of infradian rhythms

Answer 2

Menstrual cycle

SAD

Question 3

Menstrual cycle: timings

Answer 3

Average = 28 days
Short = 23 days
Long = 36 days

Question 4

What is the menstrual cycle regulated by

Answer 4

Hormones

Oestrogen and progesterone

Question 5

Oestrogen

Answer 5

Promotes ovulation

Question 6

Progesterone

Answer 6

Thickens lining of womb ready for possible embryo implantation

Question 7

When does ovulation occur?

Answer 7

Roughly halfway through cycle when oestrogen levels are highest

Question 8

What happens after ovulation

Answer 8

Progesterone levels increase

Question 9

Seasonal affective disorder

Answer 9

A depressive disorder (low mood, lack of activity) with a seasonal pattern

Question 10

Melatonin is secreted by

Answer 10

The penial gland

Question 11

When is melatonin secreted

Answer 11

At night

Question 12

What happens during winter

Answer 12

Longer nights and lack of light in the morning makes secretion last longer

Question 13

What is the knock on effect from longer winter nights?

Answer 13

Knock on effects on production of serotonin in the brain

low serotonin levels linked to depressive symptoms

Question 14

What does this claim support? ‘the menstrual cycle is regulated by the pituitary gland and hormones’

Answer 14

Endogenous pacemakers

Question 15

Support for exogenous zeitgeibers

Answer 15

Reinberg

Russell

Question 16

Support for endogenous pacemakers

Answer 16

Penton-voak

Question 17

A03: Reinberg

Answer 17

Examined woman who spent three months in cave with small lamp to provide light
Menstrual cycle shortened 28 to 25.7 days

Question 18

A03: Reinberg. What does study suggests?

Answer 18

Suggests lack of light (EZ) in cave affected menstrual cycle demonstrates effect of external forces on infradian rhythms

Question 19

McClintock effect

Answer 19

Theory that women who live together tend to synchronise their menstrual cycles due to presence of pheromones

Question 20

Pheromones

Answer 20

A smell-free chemical which can be processed without knowing

Question 21

A03: Russell procedure

Answer 21

Conducted research in McClintock effect

Armpit sweat from donor females, wiped onto upper lip of recipient female

Question 22

A03: Russel findings

Answer 22

68% of recipients menstrual cycle synchronised with donor

Suggests EZ’s may be just as important as regulating cycle

Question 23

A03: against Russel

Answer 23

Cycles of 2 diff women will synchronise anyway
Woman A, woman B
They vary, means synchronisation likely to happen by chance but researchers interpret this as pheromones

Question 24

A03: Penton-voak (1999)

Answer 24

Ovulating = prefer masculine faces when picking partner

Less fertile = prefer feminine faces when picking partner

Question 25

Why do ovulating women prefer masculine faces?

Answer 25

Masculine face = good genes and virility

Beneficial for ST mating partner, logically corresponds with fertile phase

Question 26

Why do less fertile women prefer feminine faces?

Answer 26

Feminine = kind and cooperation
Beneficial for LT partner selection, logically corresponds with less fertile phase where woman choose suitable LT partner

Question 27

A03: what does penton-voaks research suggest?

Answer 27

Research suggests concurrent rhythm that runs along menstrual cycle