Lesson 11 - Ultradian and Infradian Rhythms Flashcards

1
Q

What do ultradian rhythms span?

A

A period of less than 24 hours

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2
Q

What is an example of an ultradian rhythm?

A

Five sleep stages

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3
Q

What pattern does human sleep follow?

A

Alternates between REM, stage 5

and NREM, stages 1-4

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4
Q

How often does the human sleep cycle repeat?

A

Every 90 minutes

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5
Q

What does EEG stand for?

A

Electroencephalogram

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6
Q

What does a EEG measure?

A

General activity in the brain

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7
Q

How is an EEG done?

A

Electrodes are placed on the scalp and measure neuronal activity directly below

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8
Q

What does each sleep stage show?

A

A distinct EEG pattern

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9
Q

What happens as a person enters deep sleep?

A

Brainwaves slow and breathing and heart rate decreases

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10
Q

What is the EEG pattern of REM sleep?

A

It resembles that of an awake person

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11
Q

What happens during REM sleep?

A

Dreaming

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12
Q

Which sleep stage is REM sleep?

A

Stage five

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13
Q

What does NREM stand for?

A

Non-Rapid Eye Movement

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14
Q

What does BRAC stand for?

A

Basic Rest Activity Cycle

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15
Q

Who talked about BRAC?

A

Kleitman 1969

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16
Q

What is BRAC?

A

Name of the 90 minute cycle found during sleep and wakefulness

17
Q

What did Kleitman suggest about BRAC?

A

He suggested 90 minute cycle continues when we are awake

18
Q

What happens to human activity during the day?

A

We progressively move from a state of alertness to physiological fatigue

19
Q

What do studies show about the human mind?

A

We can focus for about 90 minutes

Near the end of the 90 minutes the body begins to run out of resources

Results in loss of concentration, fatigue and hunger

20
Q

Ericsson et al
2006
Ultradian rhythms
+

A

Studied elite violinists and found group practice sessions were limited to 90 minutes at a time

Violinists frequently napped to recover from practise; the best violinists napping more

Same pattern found among WAC; writers, athletics and chess players

Fits with BRAC

21
Q

Tucker et al
2007
Ultradian rhythms
+

A

Individual differences in ultradian rhythms which are biologically determined and may be genetic in origin

Participants studied over 11 consecutive days in a lab environment

Sleep duration, time taken to fall asleep and amount of time in each sleep stage was assessed

Differences found in all characteristics

22
Q

What do infradian rhythms span?

A

A period of longer than 24 hours

23
Q

What is an example of an infradian rhythm?

A

Menstrual cycle

24
Q

How long does the menstrual cycle last?

A

Around a month

25
What did Refinetti 2006 found out about the menstrual cycle?
Variations in the cycle length Some women experience a 23 day cycle and others a 36 day cycle
26
What is the average number of days for a menstrual cycle?
28 days
27
What regulates the menstrual cycle?
Hormones
28
When does ovulation occur?
Oestrogen levels are at their peak Roughly halfway through the menstrual cycle
29
How long does ovulation last?
16-32 hours
30
What happens AFTER ovulation?
Progesterone levels increase In preparation for a possible embryo implantation in uterus
31
Penton-Voak 1999 Infradian rhythms +
Infradian rhythms can affect behaviour Found women prefer feminised male faces when choosing a partner in long-term relationship Masculinised faces preferred during ovulation
32
Pheromones evaluation Infradian rhythms -
Menstrual cycle is not governed by infradian rhythm alone No oral contraceptives + several women of childbearing age live together = menstrual cycles synchronise Samples of sweat collected from one group of women and rubbed onto the upper lip of another group of women; their menstrual cycles synchronised Suggests pheromones affect synchronisation
33
What are pheromones?
A chemical substance produced and released into the environment by an animal which affects the behaviour of others of the same species