Ultradial Rhythm^

Question 1

Frequency?

Answer 1

bio rhythm with frequency of more than one cycle in 24h
- stages of sleep

Question 2

The Sleep Cycle Stages

Answer 2

sleep 1 & 2 - light
sleep 3 & 4 - deep/ slow wake sleep
sleep 5 - REM/ rapid eye movement
cycle of stages repeat around every 90 mins
each stage characterised by different level of brain activity

Question 3

Stage 1 & 2

Answer 3

light sleep
woken easily
S1 - brain waves of high frequency/low amplitude
S2 - alpha waves (random changes - sleep spindles)

Question 4

Stage 3 & 4

Answer 4

slow wave
brain waves have lower frequency
- higher amplitude (delta waves)
difficult to wake

Question 5

Stage 5

Answer 5

REM - rapid eye movement
body paralysed
brain alert like its awake
theta waves and eyes move
dream in this stage and during deep sleep

Question 6

The Sleep Lab

Answer 6

control of extraneous variables
- researchers can exclude temporary varibles
- noise, temp

Question 7

VS The Sleep Lab

Answer 7

attached to heavy machines
invasives, leads to unatural sleep
- data obtained lacks external validity VS everyday sleep

Question 8

Individual Differences

Answer 8

Tucker et al
- found significant individual differences between stage 3&4
- suspected to be a bio cause
- difficult to describe sleep accurately

Question 9

Improved Understanding

Answer 9

greater understanding of age related changes in sleep
deep sleep reduces with age
- growth hormones produces in that stage
- reduced in older people
van Cauter et al
- explain various issues in old age (decrease in alertness)
- knowing it, allows to provide appropriate treatment
- boost the production of growth hormones