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1 - Psychology A Level OCR > P3 - E.P - Biological Rhythms > Flashcards

P3 - E.P - Biological Rhythms Flashcards

1
Q

Biological Rhythms definition

A

Rhythms that govern much of our Psychological Functioning
* Most Important = Circadian Rhythms, a Rhythm that repeats approximately every 24hrs

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2
Q

Green Study (1994)

A
  • estimates there are ~100 diff. Circadian Rhythms in mammals
  • E.g. Sleeping, Waking, Body Temperature, Urine Flow, Digestion, Blood Pressure, Hormone Release etc.
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3
Q

Endogenous vs Exogenus

A

ENDO - Naturally Occuring
EXO - Dependancy on External Cues

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4
Q

Michael Siffre Study

A
  • Portrayed that Circadian Rhythms are Endogenus
  • However, the body uses cues both from its own internal processes & from the environment (e.g. time on clock, light-dark cycle, meal times) to keep these various Rythms in check
  • Challenged wherer Endogenous or Exogenous factors inform out Circadian Rhythms

He spent time in a cave and maintained a regular cycle

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5
Q

Temperature & Sleep example of Circadian Rhythms

A
  • Body Temperature is highest during the Afternoon & early evening & lowest in the very early morning for example
  • We tend to fall asleep as our body temperature falls, & find it harder to sleep as our body temperature rises again
  • Also applies to Hormones, Mood etc.
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6
Q

Disruption of Bodily Rhythms

A

Zeitgebers = Time Indicators change dramatically, our internal clocks are not able to adjust fast enough & our Physiological processas (such as hunger & sleep - wake cycle) become desynchronised from the outside world
* e.g. Jetlag

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7
Q

Czeisler et al.

A

IN RELATION TO ZEITGABERS
Bodies respond to Zeitgebers rather than ‘Body Clock’ to overcome feelings of jet lag

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8
Q

Phase Advances VS Phase Delayed

A

Phase Advanced - East > West
Phase Delayed - West > East (far easier for our body clocks to resynhronise

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9
Q

Impact of Shift Work (Irregular Work Hours)

A
  • Produces similar desynchronisation of Body rhythms & Zeitgebers to Jet Lag
  • E.g. Police, Nursing, Leisure Industry, some Industrial Work
    Causes
  • Sleep Deprevation (& other sleep problems)
  • Increased Susceptability to minor illnesses
  • More likely to have Bad Diet &/or excess of Caffine
  • Recent Research suggests Shift work is Carconogenic

Increases risk of Cancer

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10
Q

Melatonin

A
  • The Sleep Hormone
  • Melatonin Secretion Starts at 21:00 (9;00pm), Ends 7:30
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11
Q

Endogenous Pacemaker

A

BIOLOGICAL Internal Clock
* Something inside us that increases ability to keep the time

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12
Q

Exogenous Zeitgebers

A

Cue from the outside world that Entrain internal body clocks to match the environment
* Light is believed to be the dominant Zeitgeber

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13
Q

Sleep-Wake Cycle

A

We have a Circadian Rhythm for Sleeping & Waking, regardless of

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14
Q

Entrainment

A

Endogenous Pacemakers become Syncronysed with Zeitgebers

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15
Q

De-Synchronysed

A
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16
Q

Jet-Lag

A
17
Q

Ralph (2011)

A
  • Hamsters with 20hr sleep rate Cycle
  • Control group of normal 24hr Hamsters
  • ~
18
Q

Key Research

Examples of Night Work

A
  • Miners
  • Emergency Services
    * Hospitals
    * Police
    * Fire Service
    * Ambulance
  • Fast Food
  • Support Centres
  • 24hr Shops
  • Hotel
  • Factory Workers
  • Care Workers
19
Q

Effects of Shift Work

A
  • Hampers Sleep
  • Depression
  • Hampers Heart Health
  • Gastrointestinal Problems
  • Increased Diabetes Risk
20
Q

Experiment 1 - Questionnaire

A

Quasi Experiment
85 Male rotating shift workers
* Falling Asleep at Work
* Adjustment takes 2-4 days
* Insomnia
* 26% never adjust to New Shift
68 Male non-rotating shift
* Better Concentration
* Fewe Sleep Problems
* Fewer Digestive Systems

21
Q

Experiment 2 - Field - IV

A

IV
* 21 day, NEW Shift Change pattern
* Phase Delay direction
* E.G. 11pm start, 5am start, 10am start, 3pm start. CLOCKWISE (52 of the original 85 sample)

OR

  • Stay on OLD 7 Day Shift Change pattern
  • Phase Advance direction
  • 11pm start, 7pm start, 1pm start, 6am start. ANTI-CLOCKWISE (33 of the original 85 sample)
22
Q

Experiment 2 - Field - DV

A

Satisfaction and Health questionnaire scores 3 and 6 months later

23
Q

Reasons Night Work is in Demand

A
  • To meet Demand for Factory or Delivery Products
  • Night Shifts pay more, howeverno legal differene in Minimum Pay
24
Q

CZEISLER - Sampling Bias

A

HIGHTENS
* Sample from Utah - low Population Validity
* Androcentric
* All worked at same mine
* Some Workers had been working for 10 years prior to the research
* Small Sample Size
* Limited Generalisability
LOWERS
Wide Age Range
* Group 1 = 19-68
* Control Group 19-56
*

25
Q

CZEISLER - Ethnocentrism

A
  • Utah, USA - ruiles and regulations
  • Cannot be applied to other cultures
  • Great salt lake minerals
26
Q

CZEISLER - Usefulness

A
  • There are Real Life Applications
  • Reduce Health Problems in shift work through Carcadian Rythm
  • Understand how it effects People
  • Change Shift Patterns
  • Increased Productivity and Production
27
Q

CZEISLER - Reliability

A
  • Test-retest Questionnaire x2 3 months and then 6 months
  • Less Reliability due to Presentation
  • Androcentrism also decreases
28
Q

CZEISLER - Validity

A
  • Presentation in Part 2 - external factors could influence
  • Ecologically valid - field experiments
  • Used Actual Jobs and Job Rotations
  • Internal lowered not controlled environment
  • Population validity = only shift pattern workers not universal
  • Workers in comparanle jobs
29
Q

Power Naps

A
  • Recommended only for Night Shifts
  • 20 - 45 Min Restorative Nap
  • Essential for maintaining Vigilance and Alertness during the Night
30
Q

Drugs to promote Sleep, Wakefulness and Adaptation

A

MELATONIN - Hormone, which is part of a Circadian Rhythm - released with darkness Zeitgebers - promotes Sleepiness
MELATONIN PILLS - can be bought without a prescription to help sleep during the day, and help align the circadian rhythm to work at Night
HYPNOTICS (general term) - Sleep Inducing Drugs, used to lengthen daytime sleep after Night Shifts

31
Q

Power Naps + & -

A
  • A qualitative study in Canada showed of critical care nurses showed that 10/13 who regularly napped during their breaks self-reported many benefits such as* improved mood, decision making and vigilance*.
  • Innapropriate Environments and/or Facilities, as well as the Perceptions of Colleagues and Managers
  • People may react differently to napping (come may still feel very tired/unmotivated)
32
Q

Drugs + & -

A
  • Daytime Sleepiness
  • Headaches
  • Difficult to Access in UK w/out Perscription

Long Term use of Stimulants are Highly Addictive and can cause Side Effects including:
* Irregular feelings of Hostility
* Paranoia
* Increased Body Temperature
* Irregular Heartbeat

1 - Psychology A Level OCR (36 decks)

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