Body associations with sleep

• Pineal gland

  • produces melatonin
  • melatonin is released into the bloodstream
  • melatonin sends us to sleep
  • high levels of melatonin for 12 hours
• Exogeneous pacemakers

  • our biological clocks
  • Internal factors (nature)
  • sends messages to parts of our brain that release hormones, in charge of body temperature (factors that affect sleepiness)
• Exogeneous zeitgebers

  • external factors ( environment)
  • E.g. daylight, eating time, alcohol and nicotine consumption