Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience - Biological Rhythms and Sleep

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions from the 'Biological rhythms and sleep' chapter in Behavioral Neuroscience.

Circadian rhythms

Biological cycles that last approximately 24 hours, regulating various bodily functions like sleep-wake cycles.

Chronobiology

The study of biological clocks and rhythms within an organism.

Ultradian rhythms

Rhythms that have cycles shorter than 24 hours, such as the sleep cycle.

Infradian rhythms

Rhythms that have cycles longer than 24 hours, like the menstrual cycle.

Circannual rhythms

Biological rhythms that occur roughly once a year, such as hibernation.

Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

The master clock in the brain located in the hypothalamus that regulates circadian rhythms.

Mesor

The adjusted average of a rhythm when measured over time.

Free-running period

The cycle of activity and rest shown by organisms in perpetual dim light or darkness.

Chronotypes

Individual differences in the timing of sleeping and alertness, often categorized as night owls or early birds.

Photic phase response curve

The relationship between light exposure and the resetting of circadian rhythms.

Melatonin

A hormone produced by the pineal gland that helps regulate sleep-wake cycles.

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks.

Social jetlag

The discrepancy between an individual’s internal clock and the external social clock, often leading to poor sleep quality.

Polysomnography

A comprehensive recording of the biophysiological changes that occur during sleep.

Homeostatic pressure

The drive for sleep that builds up during wakefulness and decreases during sleep.

Flip flop switch

A model describing the mutual inhibition between wake and sleep-promoting areas in the brain.

How is the photic phase response curve utilized in studying circadian rhythms in the lab?\n\n

The photic phase response curve is utilized in the lab to understand how varying light exposure at different times can shift circadian rhythms. Researchers apply this knowledge to design experiments that observe how light can advance or delay biological clocks in organisms.