6.7: Infradian rhythms Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in 6.7: Infradian rhythms Deck (28)
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1
Q

Infradian rhythm

A

An infradian rhythm is a type of biological rhythm with a frequency of more than 24 hours, such as menstruation and seasonal affective disorder

2
Q

What is the female menstrual cycle governed by?

A

The female menstrual cycle is governed by monthly changes in hormone levels that regulate ovulation

3
Q

The female menstrual cycle is governed by monthly changes in hormone levels that regulate ovulation.
What time does the menstrual cycle refer to?

A

The menstrual cycle refers to the time between the first day of a woman’s period, when the womb lining is shed, to the day before her next period

4
Q

The female menstrual cycle is governed by monthly changes in hormone levels that regulate ovulation.
The menstrual cycle refers to the time between the first day of a woman’s period, when the womb lining is shed, to the day before her next period.
The typical cycle takes approximately 28 days to complete, though what is generally considered normal?

A

The typical cycle takes approximately 28 days to complete, though anywhere between 24 and 35 days is generally considered normal

5
Q

The female menstrual cycle is governed by monthly changes in hormone levels that regulate ovulation.
The menstrual cycle refers to the time between the first day of a woman’s period, when the womb lining is shed, to the day before her next period.
The typical cycle takes approximately 28 days to complete, though anywhere between 24 and 35 days is generally considered normal.
The menstrual cycle could be how many days?

A

The menstrual cycle could be 20 - 60 days

6
Q

The female menstrual cycle is governed by monthly changes in hormone levels that regulate ovulation.
The menstrual cycle refers to the time between the first day of a woman’s period, when the womb lining is shed, to the day before her next period.
The typical cycle takes approximately 28 days to complete, though anywhere between 24 and 35 days is generally considered normal.
The menstrual cycle could be 20 - 60 days.
What is the menstrual cycle controlled by?

A

The menstrual cycle is controlled by the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which are released by the endocrine glands

7
Q

The female menstrual cycle is governed by monthly changes in hormone levels that regulate ovulation.
The menstrual cycle refers to the time between the first day of a woman’s period, when the womb lining is shed, to the day before her next period.
The typical cycle takes approximately 28 days to complete, though anywhere between 24 and 35 days is generally considered normal.
The menstrual cycle could be 20 - 60 days.
The menstrual cycle is controlled by the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which are released by the endocrine glands.
During each cycle, what do rising levels of oestrogen do?

A

During each cycle, rising levels of oestrogen cause the ovary to develop an egg and release it (ovulation)

8
Q

The female menstrual cycle is governed by monthly changes in hormone levels that regulate ovulation.
The menstrual cycle refers to the time between the first day of a woman’s period, when the womb lining is shed, to the day before her next period.
The typical cycle takes approximately 28 days to complete, though anywhere between 24 and 35 days is generally considered normal.
The menstrual cycle could be 20 - 60 days.
The menstrual cycle is controlled by the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which are released by the endocrine glands.
During each cycle, rising levels of oestrogen cause the ovary to develop an egg and release it (ovulation).
After ovulation, what does progesterone do?

A

After ovulation, progesterone helps the womb lining to grow thicker, readying the body for pregnancy

9
Q

The female menstrual cycle is governed by monthly changes in hormone levels that regulate ovulation.
The menstrual cycle refers to the time between the first day of a woman’s period, when the womb lining is shed, to the day before her next period.
The typical cycle takes approximately 28 days to complete, though anywhere between 24 and 35 days is generally considered normal.
The menstrual cycle could be 20 - 60 days.
The menstrual cycle is controlled by the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which are released by the endocrine glands.
During each cycle, rising levels of oestrogen cause the ovary to develop an egg and release it (ovulation).
After ovulation, progesterone helps the womb lining to grow thicker, readying the body for pregnancy.
If pregnancy does not occur, what happens?

A

If pregnancy does not occur, the egg is absorbed into the body and the womb lining comes away and leaves the body (the menstrual flow)

10
Q

Although the menstrual cycle is an endogenous system, what does evidence suggest?

A

Although the menstrual cycle is an endogenous system, evidence suggests that it may be influenced by exogenous factors, such as the cycles of other women

11
Q

McClintock and Stern demonstrated how menstrual cycles may synchronise as a result of the influence of female pheromones.
McClintock involved 29 women with a history of irregular periods.
Samples of pheromones were gathered from 9 of the women at different stages of their menstrual cycles, via a cotton pad placed in their armpit.
The pads were worn for at least 8 hours to ensure that pheromones were picked up.
The pads were treated with alcohol and frozen, to be rubbed on the upper lip of the other participants.
On day one, pads from the start of the menstrual cycle were applied to all 20 women, on day two they were given a pad from the second day of the cycle and so on.
McClintock found that 68% of women experienced changes to the cycle which brought them closer to the cycle of their ‘odour donor.’
This shows that the menstrual cycle of a woman can be altered by communication via pheromones.

Evaluation:
The effects of pheromones can help explain menstrual synchronicity, whereby groups of women who live together, such as nuns, have menstrual cycles that can become synchronised with each other.
The idea of communication via pheromones can effectively explain this phenomenon, as there must be something in the shared environment that acts as a zeitgeber.
It is suggested that there is an evolutionary advantage if this occurs, as it means there could potentially be synchronised pregnancies and that means that childcare could be shared when the babies are born at or around the same time.

However, how close women have to live together and for what period of time for menstrual synchronisation to occur is not clear.
The extent to which pheromones can have an effect still requires research.
Wilson (1992) challenged the idea of menstrual synchronicity, stating that experimental evidence of its existence was exaggerated.

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12
Q

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

A

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a depressive disorder which has a seasonal pattern of onset and is described and diagnosed as a mental disorder in DSM-5

13
Q

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a depressive disorder which has a seasonal pattern of onset and is described and diagnosed as a mental disorder in DSM-5.
As with other forms of depression, what are the main symptoms of SAD?

A

As with other forms of depression, the main symptoms of SAD are persistent low mood alongside a general lack of activity and interest in life

14
Q

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a depressive disorder which has a seasonal pattern of onset and is described and diagnosed as a mental disorder in DSM-5.
As with other forms of depression, the main symptoms of SAD are persistent low mood alongside a general lack of activity and interest in life.
Why is SAD often referred to as the winter blues?

A

SAD is often referred to as the winter blues, because the symptoms are triggered during the winter months when the number of daylight hours becomes shorter

15
Q

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a depressive disorder which has a seasonal pattern of onset and is described and diagnosed as a mental disorder in DSM-5.
As with other forms of depression, the main symptoms of SAD are persistent low mood alongside a general lack of activity and interest in life.
SAD is often referred to as the winter blues, because the symptoms are triggered during the winter months when the number of daylight hours becomes shorter.
SAD is a particular type of infradian rhythm called a what?

A

SAD is a particular type of infradian rhythm called a circannual rhythm

16
Q

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a depressive disorder which has a seasonal pattern of onset and is described and diagnosed as a mental disorder in DSM-5.
As with other forms of depression, the main symptoms of SAD are persistent low mood alongside a general lack of activity and interest in life.
SAD is often referred to as the winter blues, because the symptoms are triggered during the winter months when the number of daylight hours becomes shorter.
SAD is a particular type of infradian rhythm called a circannual rhythm, why?

A

SAD is a particular type of infradian rhythm called a circannual rhythm, because it is subject to a yearly cycle

17
Q

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a depressive disorder which has a seasonal pattern of onset and is described and diagnosed as a mental disorder in DSM-5.
As with other forms of depression, the main symptoms of SAD are persistent low mood alongside a general lack of activity and interest in life.
SAD is often referred to as the winter blues, because the symptoms are triggered during the winter months when the number of daylight hours becomes shorter.
SAD is a particular type of infradian rhythm called a circannual rhythm, because it is subject to a yearly cycle.
However, why can SAD also be classed as a circadian rhythm?

A

However, SAD can also be classed as a circadian rhythm, because the experience of SAD may be due to the disruption of the sleep/wake cycle and this can be attributed to prolonged periods of daily darkness during winter

18
Q

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a depressive disorder which has a seasonal pattern of onset and is described and diagnosed as a mental disorder in DSM-5.
As with other forms of depression, the main symptoms of SAD are persistent low mood alongside a general lack of activity and interest in life.
SAD is often referred to as the winter blues, because the symptoms are triggered during the winter months when the number of daylight hours becomes shorter.
SAD is a particular type of infradian rhythm called a circannual rhythm, because it is subject to a yearly cycle.
However, SAD can also be classed as a circadian rhythm, because the experience of SAD may be due to the disruption of the sleep/wake cycle and this can be attributed to prolonged periods of daily darkness during winter.
Psychologists have hypothesised that what is implicated in the cause of SAD?

A

Psychologists have hypothesised that the hormone melatonin is implicated in the cause of SAD

19
Q

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a depressive disorder which has a seasonal pattern of onset and is described and diagnosed as a mental disorder in DSM-5.
As with other forms of depression, the main symptoms of SAD are persistent low mood alongside a general lack of activity and interest in life.
SAD is often referred to as the winter blues, because the symptoms are triggered during the winter months when the number of daylight hours becomes shorter.
SAD is a particular type of infradian rhythm called a circannual rhythm, because it is subject to a yearly cycle.
However, SAD can also be classed as a circadian rhythm, because the experience of SAD may be due to the disruption of the sleep/wake cycle and this can be attributed to prolonged periods of daily darkness during winter.
Psychologists have hypothesised that the hormone melatonin is implicated in the cause of SAD.
During the night, what happens?

A

During the night, the pineal gland secretes melatonin until drawn when there is an increase in light

20
Q

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a depressive disorder which has a seasonal pattern of onset and is described and diagnosed as a mental disorder in DSM-5.
As with other forms of depression, the main symptoms of SAD are persistent low mood alongside a general lack of activity and interest in life.
SAD is often referred to as the winter blues, because the symptoms are triggered during the winter months when the number of daylight hours becomes shorter.
SAD is a particular type of infradian rhythm called a circannual rhythm, because it is subject to a yearly cycle.
However, SAD can also be classed as a circadian rhythm, because the experience of SAD may be due to the disruption of the sleep/wake cycle and this can be attributed to prolonged periods of daily darkness during winter.
Psychologists have hypothesised that the hormone melatonin is implicated in the cause of SAD.
During the night, the pineal gland secretes melatonin until drawn when there is an increase in light.
During winter, what does the lack of light in the morning mean?

A

During winter, the lack of light in the morning means that this secretion process continues for longer

21
Q

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a depressive disorder which has a seasonal pattern of onset and is described and diagnosed as a mental disorder in DSM-5.
As with other forms of depression, the main symptoms of SAD are persistent low mood alongside a general lack of activity and interest in life.
SAD is often referred to as the winter blues, because the symptoms are triggered during the winter months when the number of daylight hours becomes shorter.
SAD is a particular type of infradian rhythm called a circannual rhythm, because it is subject to a yearly cycle.
However, SAD can also be classed as a circadian rhythm, because the experience of SAD may be due to the disruption of the sleep/wake cycle and this can be attributed to prolonged periods of daily darkness during winter.
Psychologists have hypothesised that the hormone melatonin is implicated in the cause of SAD.
During the night, the pineal gland secretes melatonin until drawn when there is an increase in light.
During winter, the lack of light in the morning means that this secretion process continues for longer.
What is this thought to have a knock-on effect on?

A

This is thought to have a knock-on effect on the production of serotonin in the brain

22
Q

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a depressive disorder which has a seasonal pattern of onset and is described and diagnosed as a mental disorder in DSM-5.
As with other forms of depression, the main symptoms of SAD are persistent low mood alongside a general lack of activity and interest in life.
SAD is often referred to as the winter blues, because the symptoms are triggered during the winter months when the number of daylight hours becomes shorter.
SAD is a particular type of infradian rhythm called a circannual rhythm, because it is subject to a yearly cycle.
However, SAD can also be classed as a circadian rhythm, because the experience of SAD may be due to the disruption of the sleep/wake cycle and this can be attributed to prolonged periods of daily darkness during winter.
Psychologists have hypothesised that the hormone melatonin is implicated in the cause of SAD.
During the night, the pineal gland secretes melatonin until drawn when there is an increase in light.
During winter, the lack of light in the morning means that this secretion process continues for longer.
This is thought to have a knock-on effect on the production of serotonin in the brain - what have low amounts of this chemical been linked to?

A

This is thought to have a knock-on effect on the production of serotonin in the brain - low amounts of this chemical have been linked to the onset of depressive symptoms

23
Q

Evaluation:
Strengths:
1. Menstrual synchrony, the kind observed in McClintock’s study, is thought by many to have an evolutionary value.
For our ancestors it may have been advantageous for females to menstruate together and therefore fall pregnant around the same time.
This is because it would mean that newborns could be cared for collectively within a social group, increasing the chances of the offspring’s survival.
However, the validity of the evolutionary perspective has been questioned by some.
Jeffrey Schank (2004) has argued that if there were too many females cycling together within a social group, this would produce competition for the highest quality males and thereby lowering the fitness of any potential offspring.
From this point of view, the avoidance of synchrony would appear to be the most adaptive evolutionary strategy and therefore would be naturally selected.

  1. Practical application - SAD.
    One of the most effective treatments for SAD is phototherapy.
    This is a lightbox that simulates very strong light in the morning and evening.
    It is thought to reset melatonin levels in people with SAD.
    Eastman et al. found that this relieves symptoms in up to 60% of sufferers.
    However, the same study recorded a placebo effect of 30% using a ‘sham negative-ion generator,’ as the participants were told that it was another form of treatment.
    This casts doubt on the chemical influence of phototherapy.

Against:
1. Methodological limitations in synchronisation studies.
Criticisms have been made of early synchronisation studies and the methods employed.
Commentators argue that there are many factors that may cause a woman’s menstrual cycle to vary, such as stress, changes in diet, exercise, ect, that might act as confounding variables.
This means that any supposed pattern of synchronisation, as seen in the studies by McClintock and others, is no more than would have been expected to occur by chance.
As well as this, research typically involves small samples of women and relies on participants self-reporting the onset of their own cycle.
Perhaps more critically, other studies (for example by Trevathan et al.) failed to find any evidence of menstrual synchrony in all-female samples.

  1. Animal studies.
    Much of the knowledge of the effects of pheromones on behaviour is derived from animal studies.
    The role of pheromones in animal sexual selection is well-documented.
    For example, the fact that sea urchins release pheromones into the surrounding water so other urchins in the colony will eject their sex cells simultaneously.
    In contrast, evidence for the effects in human behaviour remains speculative and inconclusive.
    This includes the, so far unproven, idea that transmission of pheromones between humans may act as an aphrodisiac
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24
Q

Menstruation is a what mechanism?

A

Menstruation is an endogenous mechanism

25
Q

Menstruation is an endogenous mechanism, why?

A

Menstruation is an endogenous mechanism, because it is controlled by internal biological factors (the hormones)

26
Q

Menstruation is an endogenous mechanism, because it is controlled by internal biological factors (the hormones), but what?

A

Menstruation is an endogenous mechanism, because it is controlled by internal biological factors (the hormones), but exogenous factors (external cues) can also affect the rhythm

27
Q

Reinberg (1967)’s study involved a woman spending 3 months in a cave with only the light of a small lamp.
As a result of this, her days lengthened to 24.9 hours and her menstrual cycle shortened to 25.7 days.
This study shows that the levels of light in the cave could have affected the woman’s menstrual cycle.
After the study, it took her body a year to readjust her menstrual cycle.
This shows that infradian biological rhythms can be influenced by external zeitgebers such as light.

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28
Q

How is SAD (seasonal affective disorder) caused?

A

SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is caused because of disrupted levels of melatonin that is released in larger amounts due to seasonal darkness that affects levels of serotonin, leading to depression

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