Chapter-5-Classroom Flashcards
What is a biological rhythm?
A periodic, more or less regular fluctuation in a biological system.
What can biological rhythms be synchronized with?
External (entrainment) cues or internal (endogenous) cues.
What do biological rhythms influence?
Biological rhythms influence effectiveness of medication, alertness, and job performance.
When do Circadian Rhythms occur?
Approximately every 24 hours (e.g. sleep-wake cycle). They are commonly entrained to external time cues, and controlled by the biological clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN).
How long is the average Endogenous rhythm?
Every 24.3 hours.
What does the suprachiasmatic nucleus do?
Regulate levels of melatonin secreted by the pineal gland.
What happens when the internal clocks are out of sync?
Internal desynchronization.
What is Internal Desynchronization?
A state when biological rhythms are not in phase with one another.
What are Circadian rhythms influenced by?
Changes in routine.
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
SAD, a controversial disorder in which a person experiences depression during the winter and an improvement of mood in the spring. Treatment involves phototherapy or exposure to fluorescent light. Evaluating frequency of and treatment for SAD is difficult.
What is “Premenstrual Syndrome”?
PMS, a vague cluster of physical and emotional symptoms associated with the days preceding menstruation that was labeled as an ‘illness’. There are physical and emotional symptoms.
What periods do people cycle through during sleep?
People cycle through periods of REM and non-REM sleep (approximate periods of 90 minutes).
What is REM sleep?
Rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep, REMS) is a unique phase of mammalian sleep characterized by random movement of the eyes, low muscle tone throughout the body, and the propensity of the sleeper to dream vividly.
What is non-REM (NREM) sleep?
The sleep stages not including REM sleep, divided into 4 stages with different brain waves, relaxed brain associated with alpha waves.
What are brain waves like when a person is awake?
Small and rapid.
What are brain waves like when a person is in stage 1 sleep?
Small and irregular.
What are brain waves like when a person is in stage 2 sleep?
Sleep spindles appear.
What are brain waves like when a person is in stage 3 sleep?
Delta waves appear.
What are brain waves like when a person is in stage 4 sleep?
Mostly delta.
What are brain waves like in REM sleep?
Rapid, somewhat irregular.
What is the description of stage 1 sleep?
The feeling on the edge of consciousness; light sleep.
What is the description of stage 2 sleep?
Presence of sleep spindles; minor noises won’t be disturbing.
What is the description of stage 3 sleep?
Delta waves begin; breathing and pulse have slowed - hard to awaken.
What is the description of stage 4 sleep?
Delta waves predominant; deep sleep; most likely stage.
What is the description of REM sleep?
Increased eye movement, loss of muscle tone, dreaming.