infradian rhythms

Question 1

infradian rhythm

Answer 1

• biological rhythms that are longer than 24 hours
• e.g testosterone levels, mentrual cycle, seasonal affective disorder

Question 2

evaluation - russell et al

Answer 2

• observed that women who live together find their menstrual cycles sync
• investigated whether this sync was due to odour exposure
• sweat samples were rubbed onto the upper lip of another group and their cycles synced
• suggests the sync can be affected by pheromones
• indicate that external factors must be taken into consideration and a holistic approach should be taken

Question 3

evaluation - reinberg

Answer 3

• case study of a woman who spent three months in a cave with only a small lamp to provide light
• menstrual cycle shortened from 28 days to 25.7 days
• suggests lack of light affected menstrual cycle, effect of external factors on infradian rhythms

Question 4

evaluation - penton-voak et al

Answer 4

• women have different mate preferences at different points in their menstrual cycle ]
• found that women expressed a preference for feminised faces at the least fertile stage of their menstrual cycle and more masculine at their most fertile point
• findings indicate that women’s sexual behaviour is motivated by their infradian rhythm