Biological rhythms

• What are the three types of biological rhythms mentioned?

  Infradian, ultradian, and circadian rhythms
• What are infradian rhythms and provide an example?

  • Rhythms longer than 24 hours
  • Example: Menstrual cycle in women
  • Regulated by ovaries producing oestrogen and progesterone
• What happens during stages 1 and 2 of the menstrual cycle?

  Oestrogen levels are low and progesterone levels are high
• What occurs if pregnancy does not happen during the menstrual cycle?

  The egg is aborted and menstruation occurs
• What are ultradian rhythms and provide an example?

  • Rhythms that occur multiple times in a 24-hour period
  • Example: Stages of sleep
  • Includes light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep
• What characterizes stages 1 and 2 of sleep?

  They are light sleep stages where a person can be easily woken
• What is the significance of stage 3 sleep?

  It is deep sleep where a person is not easily woken
• What happens during REM sleep?

  We dream and the body is paralyzed to prevent acting out dreams
• What is a circadian rhythm and provide an example?

  • Rhythms that occur once in a 24-hour period
  • Example: Sleep-wake cycle
  • Regulated by endogenous pacemakers and exogenous zeitgebers
• What are the strengths of studying biological rhythms?

  • Applications in sleep disorder treatments
  • Improved work schedules to minimize fatigue
  • Enhanced understanding of physiological processes
  • Use of objective measures for reliable evidence
• What is the holistic approach to studying biological rhythms?

  • Recognizes interaction between different biological rhythms
  • Important for understanding complexity of human biological systems
  • Provides a richer understanding of body functions