Ultradian rhythms

Question 1

What two things govern biological rhythms?

Answer 1

Exogenous zeitgeibers

Endogenous pacemakers

Question 2

What are exogenous zeitgeibers?

Answer 2

External changes in the environment

Question 3

What are endogenous pacemakers?

Answer 3

The body’s biological internal clock

Question 4

What are ultradian rhythms?

Answer 4

Rhythms that occur many times in our body’s during the 24 hours

Question 5

What is the sleep cycle?

Answer 5

Example of an ultradian rhythm
5 stages
Each stage lasts approximately 90 minutes

Question 6

What are the 5 stages of the sleep cycle?

Answer 6

1 + 2; Escalator - light sleep, alpha and theta waves in the brain
3 + 4; deep sleep, delta waves in the brain
5 - REM sleep (Rapid eye movement)

Question 7

What evidence is there relating to students alertness which links to the sleep wake cycle?

Answer 7

Evidence that basic rest and activity sequence is similar to the 90 minute sleep/wake cycle.
Stages from alertness to fatigue
Students cant concentrate for longer than 90 minutes

Question 8

What did Dement and Kleitman find? (1957)

Answer 8

Evidence to support distinct sleep stages
monitored sleep patterns of 9 RPS in a lab looking at brain waves, controlled the effects of caffeine and alcohol.
Looked at REM during sleep and found it correlated with dreaming - brain activity varies depending on how vivid the dream is
Only time you remember your dream is if you wake up during REM sleep