Outline and evaluate one or more biological rhythms (24 marks) There are three main biological rhythms in psychology, Circadian, Infradian and Ultradian. Circadian Rhythms last 24 hours, ultradian rhythms last less than 24 hours and infradian rhythms last longer than a day but less than a year. Ultradian rhythms are bodily rhythms that last for less than 24 hours, such as the feeding patterns of many animals, and the stages of sleep which last 90 minutes in total. For example, there are 5 stages of sleep. In stage 1, the heart beat slows down, muscle tension is reduced and alpha waves are replaced by slower theta waves.
Discuss lifespan changes in sleep (24marks) By Rebecca Cox Sleep is a naturally recurring state characterized by reduced or absent consciousness. The sleep –wake cycle is an example of a circadian rhythm, as we have one main phase of sleeping and waking with takes place over twenty four hours. However within the time that we are asleep there is another cycle; the sleep cycle itself. This is known as an ultradian rhythm since on complete turn of the cycle from slow wave sleep one to the end of REM takes less than twenty for hours. As new born babies grow to adults there are major changes in the amount of sleep and kind of sleep that a human experiences.
Describe and Evaluate research into Circadian Rhythms, with reference to endogenous pacemakers and endogenous zeitgebers (8+16) Circadian rhythms are biological cycles that generally last about 24 hours, examples of which include core body temperature and the sleep wake cycle. The sleep-wake cycle is maintained by time checks controlled by changes in daylight and social cues like meal times. There is also the free-running biological rhythm run by endogenous pacemakers that is categorised by the isolation of people from external influences i.e. exogenous zeitgebers, relying solely on the endogenous pacemakers. Endogenous pacemakers are body clocks that are internal to our biological systems, the most important being the superchiasmatic nucleus (SCN) which is sensitive to light and receives information via the optic nerve and send this info to the pineal gland, which controls the production of melatonin.
There are three different values of heart rates; resting HR (at a steady state/pre exercise), Working HR (working at 65%- 75%, during exercise) and max HR which is the maximum your heart should pump at for extended periods of time and is calculated by 220 minus your age. Generally, the fitter you are the lower your resting HR will be, likewise if you are overweight or unfit you will, in result, gain a higher resting HR. The average resting heart rate for adults is 60-80bpm, and the normal HR for conditioned/trained athletes is 40-60bpm. This demonstrates their high level of cardiovascular fitness, and how it lowers their HR. During exercise your heart will rise and then level off, depending on your level of fitness.
The data is concerned with sleep in mammals. The data set has 62 observations and nine predictor variables. The data takes into account the effects of environmental and ecological factors on the sleep cycles of different mammals. In this study the total hours of sleep a mammal gets each day is the response variable, Y. The predictor variables X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, X8 and X9 are related to body weight, brain weight, slow wave sleep, paradoxical sleep, maximum life span, gestation time, predation index, sleep exposure index, and overall danger index, respectively.
Biological rhythms and sleep Circadian rhythms Circadian rhythms occur once every 24 hours. The most common circadian rhythm is the Sleep/wake cycle. Normally our sleep/wake pattern is entrained by external factors, such as clocks, meal times and daylight changes. These are external cues, also known as Exogenous Zeitgebers. We also have a free-running cycle governed by our endogenous body clock (our endogenous pacemaker).
Even though it may not be believable, dreams occur every time sleeping happens. The REM (Rapid Eye Movement) cycle happens every one and a half hour or so. Remembrances of dreams are not very common, but somewhere in between 4-7 times every 8 hour sleep session dreams take place. Awake dreams are also very possible, these are called day dreams. Daydreaming happens more often than some.
Both pads and tampons need to be changed regularly (at least every four hours). Using tampons has been associated with an increased risk of a rare illness called toxic shock syndrome. Follicular phase The follicular phase starts on the first day of menstruation and ends with ovulation. Prompted by the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland releases follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). This hormone stimulates the ovary to produce around five to 20 follicles
When it comes to regulation of movement, the globus pallidus has a primarily inhibitory action which balances the excitatory action of the cerebellum. These two systems are designed to work in harmony with each other to allow people to move smoothly, with even, controlled movements. Imbalances can result in tremors, jerks, and other movement problems, as seen in some people with progressive neurological disorders characterized by symptoms like tremors. The basal ganglia act on a subconscious level, requiring no conscious effort to function. When someone makes a decision to engage in an activity such as petting a cat, for example, these structures help to regulate the movement to make it as smooth as possible, and to respond to sensory feedback.
The Effect of Sleep on the Mind Studies have indicated that sleep plays a big role in the functioning of the brain. Cognitive function is negatively impacted as a result of not enough sleep and as a result may induce stress. Many factors must be considered when looking at why the brain functions differently when not fully rested, resulting in poor mental performance. “A substantial body of evidence indicates that an appropriate level of sleep is necessary for optimization of physical, cognitive, and emotional functioning, which are key domains of healthy adjustment and are at the heart of science and the practice of psychology” (Gruber, 2013, p. 62-63). Sleep and psychology are very closely related in that psychology studies mental processes and behavior, while sleep effects the wellness and health of those mental processes and behavior.