Ultradian/ infradian rhythms

Question 1

AO1s?

Answer 1

AO1: Outline infradian rhythms
AO1: Outline ultradian rhythms

Question 2

AO3s for Infradian

Answer 2

Confounding variables (-)
Conflicting evidence(-)

Question 3

AO3s for ultradian

Answer 3

Supporting evidence (+)
Ecological validity (-)

Question 4

Outline infradian rhythms

Answer 4

• 24 hours
• SAD and explain it
• McClintock (1998) investigated the menstrual cycle
• 20 exposed to other women phermones
• 68% became more in synch
• The research argues that by having similar cycles, pregnancy in our ancestors would have occurred at the same time

Question 5

Describe and explain SAD

Answer 5

Lower levels of light in the winter months due to shorter and darker days causes the pineal gland to secrete melatonin for longer. This affects the neurotransmitter serotonin, which results in clinical depressive symptoms such as persistent low moods, irritability, and lethargy and sleepiness.

Question 6

AO3: Confounding variables (-) McClintock 1998

Answer 6

E: For example, factors such as stress, changes in diet, and exercise were not controlled for.

ex -> iv -> c+f -> to what extent?

Question 7

AO3: Conflicting evidence (-)

Answer 7

E: For instance, Trevathan et al, (1993) found that in a sample of 29 lesbian couples, most partners exhibited divergence of onset dates for their menstrual cycle, thus there was no evidence of menstrual synchrony.

reliability -> lack of consistency and congruency -> challenging to generalise -> more research

Question 8

AO1- Outline infradian rhythms

Answer 8

• less than 24 hours
• sleep cycle (whole thing)

Question 9

What’s the sleep cycle?

Answer 9

On average, the entire cycle repeats every 90 minutes and a person can experience up to 5 full cycles in a night.

• Stages 1 and 2 are ‘light sleep’ stages in which the synchronised brainwave patterns become slower and more rhythmic, as alpha waves progress to theta waves.
• Stages 3 and 4 are ‘deep sleep’ stages, where it is difficult to wake someone up. This stage is associated with slower synchronised delta waves.
• Stage 5 is REM sleep, where the body is paralysed (to stop the person acting out their dream) and brain activity resembles that of an awake person. Brainwave patterns are unsynchronised.

Question 10

AO3: Supporting evidence (+)

Answer 10

E: For instance, Dement and Kleitman (1957) recorded the sleep patterns of 9 participants in a sleep lab on an EEG, and controlled for the effects of caffeine and alcohol.

sleep is natural, not extraneous -> conclusions empirical etc.

Question 11

AO3- Ecological validity (-)

Answer 11

E: For example, when investigating sleep patterns, Dement and Kleitman (1957) subjected participants to a specific level of control and used EEG to measure such rhythms, so participants were attached to monitors.

not representative -> disturb rhythm maybe -> generalise