Circadian Rhythms Flashcards
1
Q
What are all living organisms subject to?
A
Biological rhythms
2
Q
What are all biological rhythms governed by?
A
- bodies internal clock called endogenous pacemakers
- changes in the environment called exogenous zeitgeber
3
Q
How long do circadian rhythms last for?
A
24 hours - examples are the sleep/wake cycle and core temperature
4
Q
What is an important exogenous zeitgeber on our sleep/wake cycle?
A
Light
5
Q
What would happen if we had no external stimuli like light?
A
Our biological clock would have no idea if it was day or night
6
Q
Who is Siffre?
A
- 2 months in cave
- deprived of light
- resurfaced mid September thinking it was August
- biological clock continued to schedule
7
Q
What does evidence suggest about core body temperature?
A
Body temperature may have an effect on mental abilities, the warmer we are the better our cognitive performance
8
Q
Aschoff and weaver? Bunkers
A
- participants in ww2 bunker for 4 weeks with no light
- SWC was under 25 hours
- shows SWC entrained by EZ
8
Q
Speeding up SWC - Folkard?
A
- 12 participants in a cave for 3 weeks
- slept at 11:45 woke at 7:45 from clock
- unknown, sped clock up so it was 22 hours
- no one adjusted
