Circadian Rhythms Flashcards Preview

Psychology - Biopsychology > Circadian Rhythms > Flashcards

Flashcards in Circadian Rhythms Deck (9)
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1
Q

What are all living organisms subject to?

A

Biological rhythms

2
Q

What are all biological rhythms governed by?

A
  • bodies internal clock called endogenous pacemakers

- changes in the environment called exogenous zeitgeber

3
Q

How long do circadian rhythms last for?

A

24 hours - examples are the sleep/wake cycle and core temperature

4
Q

What is an important exogenous zeitgeber on our sleep/wake cycle?

A

Light

5
Q

What would happen if we had no external stimuli like light?

A

Our biological clock would have no idea if it was day or night

6
Q

Who is Siffre?

A
  • 2 months in cave
  • deprived of light
  • resurfaced mid September thinking it was August
  • biological clock continued to schedule
7
Q

What does evidence suggest about core body temperature?

A

Body temperature may have an effect on mental abilities, the warmer we are the better our cognitive performance

8
Q

Aschoff and weaver? Bunkers

A
  • participants in ww2 bunker for 4 weeks with no light
  • SWC was under 25 hours
  • shows SWC entrained by EZ
8
Q

Speeding up SWC - Folkard?

A
  • 12 participants in a cave for 3 weeks
  • slept at 11:45 woke at 7:45 from clock
  • unknown, sped clock up so it was 22 hours
  • no one adjusted