Disrupting Biological Rhythms

Question 1

What is Jet Lag?

Answer 1

• The term for the effects we experience after crossing into a different time zone
• Takes our SCN several cycles to entrain to a new environment

Question 2

Symptoms of Jet Lag

Answer 2

fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, constipation or diarrhoea, dehydration and increased susceptibility to illness

Question 3

What is phase delay?

Answer 3

Travelling East to West (extends your day)

Question 4

What is phase advance?

Answer 4

Travelling West to East (shortens your day)

Question 5

Is it easier to adjust to phase advance or phase delay?

Answer 5

It is easier to adjust to phase delay, because phase delay is effectively lengthening our day. As we’ve seen our internal rhythm is greater than 24 hours. Phase delay therefore brings external factors closer in line with internal whereas phase advance moves them further away.

Question 6

What is shift lag?

Answer 6

• The term for the negative effects on workers, caused by rotating shifts: and in particular night shifts
• Natural rhythms will be out of sync with most of the available cues from external zeitgebers

Question 7

Symptoms of shift lag?

Answer 7

Fatigue, sleep disturbance, digestive problems, lack of concentration, memory loss and mood swings

Question 8

Issues with shift lag?

Answer 8

This has implications for safety, productivity and efficiency. Many industrial accidents have been in the early hours caused by human errors