Jet-Lag Flashcards
What is jet-lag?
The dislocation between the internal clock and local zeitgebers
Why can jet-lag be so bad for us?
Our biological rhythms are not equipped to cope with sudden and large changes - Winter (2008)
Outline Winter (2008)
Calculated one day to adjust to each hour of time change
What are the 5 main common effects of jet-lag?
Fatigue Appetite Nausea Mild depression Disorientation
Explain phase delay
When travelling East to West it is easier to adjust as you are travelling back in time, you are already awake so there is less of an effect
Explain phase advance
When travelling West to East it is harder to adjust as you are going forward in time and hence are in a circadian trough
Name the main consequence of jet-lag
Performance decrement
Name the research study associated with performance decrement of jet-lag
Recht (1995)
Outline Recht (1995)
The West coast of the USA is 3 hours behind the East so when travelling East to West, phase delay (easier) and West to East, phase advance (harder). They analysed US baseball results over 3 years and found when teams travelled from East to the West (phase delay) won on average 44% of games and when teams travelled from West to the East, (phase advance) won on average 37%
Name 2 positive points about Recht (1995)
1) Real-life setting
2) Carried out over a long period of time
Name a negative point about Recht (1995)
There would be other factors affecting the results
Name 5 factors affecting jet-lag
1) Bad sleep due to stress
2) Alcohol/coffee
3) Noise
4) Low-oxygen carbon air
5) Annoying passengers
What seems to be responsible for jet-lag?
The hormone melatonin (it reaches in peak level when we are asleep)
What is a big factor in jet-lag and the research study associated with it?
Age - Sack (2007) found jet-lag jet-lag decreases with age
What are the main 2 factors in jet-lag?
1) Age
2) Individual differences
