Biopsychology: Ultradian Rhythms

Question 1

Ultradian rhythm

Answer 1

Any cycle that lasts fewer than 24 hours

Question 2

Example of an ultradian rhythm

Answer 2

Sleep stages

Question 3

How many stages is sleep made up of?

Answer 3

4 stages occur in 90min cycles before entering R.E.M. (stage 5) then repeating

Question 4

NREM

Answer 4

Non rapid eye movement

Question 5

Stage 1

Answer 5

Light sleep
Brainwave patterns: slower + rhythmic 
Alpha waves progress to theta waves
Hypnogogic hallucinations may occur 
Feeling of falling = hypnic jerks

Question 6

S1: Hypnogogic hallucinations

Answer 6

Hearing/seeing things that aren’t there

E.g. hearing name being called

Question 7

S1: What results in hypnic jerks?

Answer 7

Feeling of falling

Question 8

Stage 2

Answer 8

Slightly deeper sleep
Breathing + HR slow
Theta waves + sleep spindles + k complex

Question 9

S2: sleep spindles

Answer 9

Bursts of rhythmic brain activity preparing for deep sleep

Question 10

S1: K complex

Answer 10

Suppress cortisol arousal - keep asleep

Question 11

Stage 3

Answer 11

Deep sleep begins
Brain generates slow delta waves
Sleep talking/walking

Question 12

Stage 4

Answer 12

V deep sleep
Rhythmic breathing
Limited muscle activity
Slow delta waves

Question 13

What generates brainwaves

Answer 13

The brain

Question 14

Stage 5 (R.E.M.)

Answer 14

Dreaming occurs
Muscles relax + HR increases
Paradoxical sleep
Breathing rapid & shallow

Question 15

Paradoxical sleep

Answer 15

Brain activity highest

Body paralysed

Question 16

New borns

Answer 16

At least half of sleep is R.E.M.

50% slow wave sleep (S3 S4)

Question 17

Older adults

Answer 17

Less R.E.M. sleep

Loss of slow wave sleep (S3 S4)

Question 18

Dement and kleitmen (1957): procedure

Answer 18

Placed EEG monitors on sleeping pp’s
7 males, 2 females. 5 studies intensely
Pp’s woken up in R.E.M. periods, asked to recall dreams

Question 19

Dement and kleitmen

Answer 19

Pp’s recall of dream = accurate

Supports dreaming occurs in R.E.M. stage