Biopsychology: rhythms

Question 1

What is a biological rhythm?

Answer 1

Cyclical changes in an organism influenced by internal clocks and external factors

Question 1

Name and define how often the 3 rhythms occur

Answer 1

Circadian - 24hrs, infradian - less than once every 24hrs, ultradian - more than once every 24hrs

Question 2

What’s an endogenous pacemaker?

Answer 2

Internal timekeeper

Question 3

What’s an exogenous zeitgeber?

Answer 3

External time giver

Question 4

Give five things that circadian rhythms control

Answer 4

Sleeping, when to eat, core body temperature, brain activity and cell regulation

Question 5

How does the sleep cycle work? (waking up)

Answer 5

Light detected by the optic nerve –> picked up by SCN –> relayed to the Pineal gland which signals the inhibition of melatonin secretion

Question 6

How does the sleep cycle work? (going to sleep)

Answer 6

Lack of light in the environment detected by the optic nerve –> signal picked up by SCN –> signal relayed to the pineal gland which signals the release of melatonin

Question 7

What is melatonin and what does it do?

Answer 7

It’s a hormone that makes you tired

Question 8

What is the normal core body temperature?

Answer 8

37C

Question 9

When does the body temperature increase and how does it link to cognitive abilities?

Answer 9

Increases to 37.5 at 6pm - higher temp = higher cognitive abilities

Question 10

When does the body temperature decrease and what does it affect?

Answer 10

36.5 at 4am - affects sleep patterns