Ultradian rhythms

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Cards (5)

  • What are ultradian rhythms?
    • Biological rhythms with a frequency of more than one in 24 hours
    • E.g. the sleep cycle
  • The sleep cycle
    • 5 stages - 90 minutes each
    • Measured using EEG
    • Stages 1 and 2 - light sleep, easy to wake, brain waves high frequency low amplitude, alpha waves, sleep spindles
    • Stages 3 and 4 - Deep sleep/slow wave sleep, delta waves, low frequency high amplitude, difficult to wake
    • Stage 5 (REM) - body is paralysed, brain activity resembles awake, theta waves, eyes move occasionally, dreams most often
  • Sleep staircase
    Stages 1, 2, 3, 4 then 3, 2, REM, then 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, REM etc