Infradian and ultradian rythms

• What are the main areas of the brain involved in localisation of function?

  Motor, somatosensory, visual, auditory, language
• What is the role of Broca’s area?

  Involved in speech production
• What is the function of Wernicke’s area?

  Involved in language comprehension
• What is the focus of split brain research?

  Understanding hemispheric lateralisation
• What does brain plasticity refer to?

  The brain's ability to adapt after trauma
• What are the main scanning techniques used to study the brain?

  fMRI, EEGs, ERPs, post-mortem examinations
• What is the purpose of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)?

  To measure brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow
• What do electroencephalograms (EEGs) measure?

  Electrical activity in the brain
• What are biological rhythms?

  Cyclical patterns of biological activity
• What is the difference between circadian, infradian, and ultradian rhythms?

  Circadian: 24 hours; Infradian: longer; Ultradian: shorter
• What are infradian rhythms?

  Biological rhythms lasting longer than 24 hours
• What is an example of an infradian rhythm?

  Menstrual cycle
• How does the menstrual cycle operate?

  Governed by the hypothalamus and influenced by hormones
• What hormone is primarily involved in the menstrual cycle?

  Oestrogen
• What happens during ovulation in the menstrual cycle?

  Oestrogen levels rise and an egg is released
• What occurs if pregnancy does not happen after ovulation?

  The womb lining is shed during menstruation
• How can the menstrual cycle be synchronized?

  Influenced by pheromones from other women
• What was the aim of Stern and McClintock's study?

  To investigate menstrual synchrony among women
• What were the findings of Stern and McClintock's study?

  68% experienced changes in their menstrual cycle
• What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?

  A depressive disorder with seasonal onset
• What triggers SAD?

  Shorter daylight hours in winter
• What hormone is implicated in SAD?

  Melatonin
• How does melatonin secretion change in winter?

  It continues longer due to less light
• What effect does prolonged melatonin secretion have?

  It affects serotonin production linked to depression
• What is the evolutionary basis for menstrual synchrony?

  It may improve survival rates of infants
• What are methodological limitations of synchronisation studies?

  Confounding variables may affect results
• What did Terman's study reveal about SAD?

  SAD is more common in northern regions
• What is light therapy?

  A treatment for reducing symptoms of SAD
• What did Reinberg's study demonstrate?

  External cues can affect menstrual cycles
• What are ultradian rhythms?

  Biological rhythms lasting less than 24 hours
• What is an example of an ultradian rhythm?

  Stages of sleep
• How do circadian rhythms differ from ultradian rhythms?

  Circadian rhythms occur once every 24 hours
• What are the five stages of sleep?

  REM and NREM stages with varying brain activity
• What happens during slow wave sleep (SWS)?

  Growth hormone is produced during SWS
• What did Tucker et al. find about ultradian rhythms?

  There are large individual differences in sleep stages
• What is a benefit of sleep research in a lab?

  Control of extraneous variables
• What is a limitation of lab sleep studies?

  Participants may not sleep normally
• What is the advantage of using EEGs in sleep studies?

  They provide objective and quantitative data
• What is a limitation of EEGs in sleep research?

  They do not explain the cause of brain activity
• What is the human female menstrual cycle classified as?

  Infradian rhythm