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What is the AO1 for Biological rhythms?
governed by Endogenous Pacemakers (EP)- internal biological clocks
and Exogenous zeitgebers (EZ)- changes in environment
Ultradian (a day), infradian (>day) & circannual (yearly) rhythms. Circadian is 24 hrs.
examples of circadian rhythms are sleep/wake cycle and core body temperature
What is the AO1 for the sleep/wake cycle?
feeling of drowsiness at night and alert during the day, is governed by EZ (e.g. daylight) & EP (e.g. suprachiasmatic nucleus- lies just above the optic chiasm and processes light)
(EZ) light can reset the SCN
If no EZs, Biological clock would be ‘free running’- Impacts?
Describe the researches for the impacts of a free running biological clock (AO1/AO3)
Siffre’s Cave Study:
Spent several extended periods, deprived from natural light & sound but had adequate food and drinks
Resurfaced at mid September thinking it was mid August.
2nd time a decade later, and his free running rhythm settled down to just over 24 hrs (around 5hrs).
Other research:
in a World war 2 bunker 7 deprived from natural light
All, but one ppt’s ( whose cycle extended to 29 hrs), showed a circadian rhythm of 24-25 hrs
Suggests natural cycle is slightly over 24 hrs but also entrained by EZ
Describe the research that suggests to overestimate the influence of EZs on our internal body clock (AO1/AO3)
it studied 12 ppts kept in a dark cave for 3 weeks, went to bed when clock showed 11:45pm and woke up when 7:45 am
Bed routine clock was gradually sped up (without ppts knowing) so that the supposed 24hr day was only 22hrs - most couldn’t adjust (only one could)
this shows evidence of strong free running circadian rhythm
What is AO3 for the research on circadian rhythms and its counter?
Strength:
Strength, consequences of desynchronization
night workers loose concentration at circadian through (6am)- make more mistakes at work
more likely to develop heart disease
real-world economic value (to manage worker productivity)
Counter:
Counter, uses correlation methods
difficult to establish cause
e.g. night shifts ≠ high divorce rates
might not just be biological factors
What is an AO3 of research on circadian rhythms (strength)?
Strength, used to improve medical treatments as circadian rhythms co-ordinate many bodily functions e.g. heart rate
In the field of chronotherapeutics, Aspirin (reduces blood platelet activity) is recommended to be taken last thing at night
as heart attacks occur mostly at early mornings
therefore, it can help increase effectiveness of drug treatments.
What is an AO3 of research on circadian rhythms (Limitation)?
limitation, individual differences make generalisation difficult
Sleep/ wake studies used small sample size
opposing research: varies from 13-65 hrs, natural preferences (larks and owls), ageing slows down the sleep/wake cycle
Research data are only averages (meaningless)
