PSYCH261 Chapter Notes -Circadian Rhythm, Circadian Clock, Jet Lag

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCH261
• Professor: Daniel Smilek

Document Summary

Module 9. 1: rhythms of waking and sleeping. Bird preparing for flight: endogenous circadian rhythms last about a day, ex. If scn neurons are removed from the body/disconnected from the brain, they continue to produce circadian rhythm of action potentials. Interactions among cells sharpen accuracy of rhythm. Located near periphery, not evenly throughout retina. Respond to light slowly and turn off slowly when light stops. Moderate dose in afternoon phase- advances clock by making person get sleepier earlier, wake up earlier next morning. Repeated morning doses can phase- delay the clock, making person sleepy later at night, wake up later next morning. Sleep and other interruptions of consciousness. Stage 1 sleep: eeg dominated by low- voltage, irregular, jagged waves. Later stages: heart rate, breathing rate, brain activity decrease; waves become slow, large in amplitude. Module 9. 2: stages of sleep and brain mechanisms. Intermittent characteristics such as facial twitches and eye movements.