Ultradian rhythms

Question 1

What are ultradian rhythms?

Answer 1

A type of biological rhythm with a frequency of more than 1 cycle in 24 hours

Question 2

What is an example of an ultradian rhythm?

Answer 2

Stages of sleep

Question 3

What are brain waves made of?

Answer 3

Rise and fall, frequency and amplitude

Question 4

What is frequency?

Answer 4

The time between each peak

Question 5

What is amplitude?

Answer 5

The height of each peak - amount of electrical activity

Question 6

What are sleep stages?

Answer 6

Start with a period of NREM sleep, going gradually down the sleep staircase from stage 1 (lightest sleep) to stage 2, 3 and spend about 10-15 mins in each stage before stage 4

Question 7

How many stages of sleep are there?

Answer 7

5

Question 8

What is the first stage of sleep?

Answer 8

Light sleep - when a person can be easily waken

Question 9

What waves are present in stage 1?

Answer 9

Alpha waves

Question 10

What is the frequency and amplitude of alpha waves?

Answer 10

High frequency and low amplitude

Question 11

What is the second stage of sleep?

Answer 11

The same as stage 1

Question 12

What are the waves in second stage sleep?

Answer 12

Alpha waves but with random changes in pattern - sleep spindles

Question 13

What are the waves in second stage sleep?

Answer 13

Alpha waves but with random changes in pattern - sleep spindles

Question 14

What is the 3rd and 4th stage of sleep?

Answer 14

Deep sleep of slow wave sleep (SWS) and is difficult to wake someone

Question 15

What are the waves in 3rd and 4th stage of sleep?

Answer 15

Delta waves

Question 16

What are delta waves?

Answer 16

Thy have lower frequency and higher amplitude

Question 17

What is the 5th stage of sleep?

Answer 17

REM (rapid eye movement ) - the body is paralysed but brain activity is similar to that of an awake brain

Question 18

What brain waves are produced in the 5th stage of sleep?

Answer 18

Theta waves and the eyes occasionally move

Question 19

When do dreams occur?

Answer 19

Mostly in REM sleep but sometimes in deep sleep

Question 20

What is research evidence for sleep stags?

Answer 20

Dement and Kleitman who used EEG to distinguish stages of sleep

Question 21

What are methodological issues with sleep studies?

Answer 21

Extraneous variables such as noise and may not represent ordinary sleep patterns,

Question 22

What are methodological strentghs of sleep studies?

Answer 22

Distinct cyclical pattern of brain activity confirmed in replications and use of EEG is objective

Question 23

What are real life applications of sleep studies?

Answer 23

Improved understanding of how slow wave sleep reduces with age and explains issues in old age such as reduced alertness and daytime naps

Question 24

What are individual differences with sleep studies?

Answer 24

Differences are biologically determined so can’t describe normal sleep and Tucker et al. found differences in duration of each sleep stage