Circadian Rhythms

Question 1

Bio rhythms

Answer 1

Distinct patterns of changes in body activity that repeat regularly + conform to cyclical time periods (24 hours)

All animals/people/plants r subject to bio rhythms that exert influence on way out bodies behave

Question 2

All bio r’s r governed by 2 things…

Answer 2

Internal body clocks = endogenous pacemakers
External body = exogenous zeitbergs -external changes in environment - which entrain bio rhythms (natural light)

Question 3

Circadian rhythm

Answer 3

Type of bio rhythm that lasts around 24 hours, regulate no of bodily processes such as SW cycle + changes in body temp

Question 4

Sleep wake cycle

Answer 4

Effect of daylight - drowsy during night and alert during day - important exogenous zeitgeber on our SW cycle

Question 5

Free running

Answer 5

If biological clock was left to its own without influence of external stimulus such as light (ex z)
If we didn’t know weather it was night or day would we still fall asleep and wake up at reg times?

Question 6

Siffre cave study

Answer 6

Spent long time underground in cave to study effect of his own bio rhythms deprived of exposure to natural light + sound
Found his free running bio rhythm settled down to now that was just beyond usual 24 hours. 25 hours though he did continue to fall asleep ans wake up on a reg schedule

Question 7

Core body temp

Answer 7

Varies around 2 degrees during day and lowest around 4 in morning and highest around 6 in evening
Body temp may have effect on our mental abilities -warmer - better cog performance

Question 8

Economic implications of research into sleep/wake cycle

Answer 8

Costs uk 115 to 240 million pounds to fix work accidents alone
Car acccidents due to tiredness