Endogenous Rhythms and Biological Clocks
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Questions and Answers

What characteristic of night shift workers makes them feel groggy during their shifts?

  • They are naturally early risers
  • Their body temperature peaks at night (correct)
  • They sleep better during the day
  • Adjusting to shift changes easily

What role does the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN) play in the body?

  • It regulates blood pressure
  • It manages emotional responses
  • It generates impulses that control sleep and temperature rhythms (correct)
  • It stimulates hunger cues

How is light utilized to reset the SCN in the body?

  • It travels via the retinohypothalamic path to the SCN (correct)
  • It activates retinal ganglion cells that produce visual images
  • It travels through the optic nerve to influence emotional states
  • It directly alters the sleep cycle through hormonal changes

What genetic mutation affects the circadian rhythm of certain hamsters?

<p>A mutation that creates a 20-hour circadian rhythm (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What special photopigment do ganglion cells that reset the SCN contain?

<p>Melanopsin (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which part of the retina are the ganglion cells that reset the SCN primarily located?

<p>Near the nose (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which genes are regulated by the SCN to control circadian rhythms in flies?

<p>per and tim (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How might one's natural circadian rhythm change over time?

<p>It may change with age (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to PER and TIM concentrations throughout the day?

<p>They are low in the morning and high in the evening. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do high levels of PER and TIM affect the genes that produce them?

<p>They inhibit the genes from producing mRNA. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does melatonin play in sleep regulation?

<p>It regulates the pineal gland to increase sleepiness. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of a coma?

<p>Extended unconsciousness with little brain activity. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a minimally conscious state from a vegetative state?

<p>Presence of purposeful actions and limited speech comprehension. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to melatonin levels before bedtime?

<p>They increase usually 1 or 2 hours before. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do mutations in the PER gene affect humans?

<p>They alter sleep schedules. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key regulator of waking and sleeping?

<p>Pineal gland (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of memory is characterized as memories of personal events?

<p>Episodic memory (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of memory tends to remain intact in patients with amnesia?

<p>Procedural memory (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of memory, what is the difference between implicit and explicit memory?

<p>Implicit memory involves subconscious influences of recent experiences, while explicit memory is conscious recall. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What finding suggests the hippocampus is crucial for declarative memory?

<p>Patients have severe difficulty remembering new facts. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What procedure is used to measure declarative memory in animals?

<p>Delayed matching-to-sample task (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

After interacting with different hospital workers, how did the patient with amnesia express a preference?

<p>He stated a preference for the pleasant nurse, but could not explain why. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of memory is described as the influence of a recent experience on behavior without conscious recall?

<p>Implicit memory (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the memory capabilities of patients with amnesia?

<p>They have normal working memory but severe memory loss for declarative memory. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the functions of the left and right hemispheres of the brain?

<p>Each hemisphere controls the contralateral side of the body. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of memory is primarily affected in retrograde amnesia?

<p>The memory of past experiences. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to the strengthening of synapses based on recent patterns of activity?

<p>Hebbian synapses (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the hippocampus in memory processing?

<p>Enables the consolidation of declarative memory. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What effect does long-term potentiation (LTP) have on neurons?

<p>It enhances the efficiency of synapses. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an engram?

<p>The physical manifestation of memory storage. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of memory is associated with the difficulty in recalling early childhood memories?

<p>Infant amnesia (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What neurological condition is characterized by the buildup of amyloid-β protein?

<p>Alzheimer's disease (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What surgical procedure is sometimes performed on individuals with uncontrolled seizures?

<p>Severing the focus of the seizure (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of severing the corpus callosum in epileptic patients?

<p>Separate processing of information in each hemisphere (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In split-brain individuals, what happens when visual information is presented to the left visual field?

<p>They can point to objects with their left hand (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

After the initial period post-surgery, how do the hemispheres of split-brain people behave?

<p>They begin to cooperate through small connections (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which hemisphere is better at comprehending spatial relationships according to research findings?

<p>Right Hemisphere (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic of individuals with right-hemisphere damage is noted?

<p>Less inflection and expression in speech (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do split-brain people often perform tasks involving their hands after surgery?

<p>They can perform tasks simultaneously with both hands (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What misconception should be avoided regarding research on hemisphere dominance?

<p>Results should not be over-emphasized (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a major advantage children have over adults when learning a second language?

<p>They learn pronunciation and grammar better. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to individuals who begin learning a second language after the age of 12?

<p>They rarely reach the level of true native speakers. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of Broca's aphasia?

<p>Meaningful speech with omitted function words. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which region of the brain is primarily associated with Broca's aphasia?

<p>Frontal lobe (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does early language acquisition impact the brain structure of bilingual children?

<p>It promotes substantial bilateral brain activity during speech. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do individuals with Broca's aphasia struggle with beyond language production?

<p>Understanding the same grammatical words they omit. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What critical period concept is associated with language learning?

<p>Language learning is optimal before adolescence. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of language do bilingual individuals in childhood develop, compared to monolingual peers?

<p>Thicker cerebral cortex in certain areas. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Circadian Rhythm

An internal biological clock that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and other bodily functions over a 24-hour period.

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

A cluster of nerve cells in the hypothalamus that controls the body's circadian rhythm, including sleep and temperature.

Retinohypothalamic Path

A neural pathway connecting the retina (light-sensitive part of your eye) to the SCN

Melanopsin

A special photopigment in retinal ganglion cells that responds to light and resets the SCN.

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Larks

People who are early risers.

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Owls

People who are evening people.

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Period and Timeless genes

Genes that produce proteins regulating circadian rhythms in flies.

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20-hour circadian rhythm

An abnormal circadian rhythm of 20 hours instead of the typical 24 hours, seen in some genetically modified hamsters.

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PER and TIM proteins

Proteins that regulate the sleep-wake cycle by influencing gene activity.

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Sleep-wake cycle regulation

The process controlled by PER and TIM proteins, influencing gene activity to regulate sleep.

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Pineal gland

The gland that releases melatonin, impacting sleepiness.

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Sleep

A state of decreased response to stimuli, actively produced by the brain.

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Coma

Extended unconsciousness caused by trauma, stroke, or disease; low brain activity.

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Vegetative state

A state of alternation between sleep and moderate arousal, with no awareness.

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Minimally conscious state

Occasional purposeful actions and limited speech comprehension, temporary awareness.

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Episodic Memory

Memory of personal experiences and events

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Semantic Memory

Memory for facts and general knowledge

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Implicit Memory

Unconscious memory influence on behavior

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Explicit Memory

Conscious recall of information as a memory

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Procedural Memory

Memory for skills and habits

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Hippocampus

Brain region crucial for declarative memory, especially episodic memory

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Delayed matching-to-sample task

Task measuring declarative memory, where animals must select a matching object after a delay

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Delayed nonmatching-to-sample task

Task measuring declarative memory, where animals must select a non-matching object after a delay

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Lateralization

The specialization of the two hemispheres of the brain for different functions. This means that each side of the brain has its own unique set of abilities.

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Contralateral Control

Each hemisphere of the brain controls the opposite side of the body. For example, the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body, and vice versa.

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Hemisphere Functions

While both hemispheres work together, they have specialized functions. The left hemisphere is usually dominant for language, logic, and analytical tasks. The right hemisphere is more involved in spatial skills, visual processing, and creativity.

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What is an engram?

An engram is the physical representation of a memory in the brain. It's like a trace or a mark left by a memory on the brain's structure.

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Amnesia

A severe memory impairment that can be caused by brain damage, trauma, or disease. Amnesia can affect the ability to form new memories (anterograde amnesia) or recall past memories (retrograde amnesia).

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Anterograde Amnesia

The inability to form new memories after a traumatic event or injury.

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Retrograde Amnesia

The inability to recall past events before a traumatic event or injury.

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Working Memory

A type of short-term memory that actively holds and manipulates information for a brief period, such as when you are doing math problems or remembering a phone number.

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Focus (seizure)

The specific area in the brain where a seizure originates.

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Corpus Callosum

The thick band of nerve fibers connecting the two hemispheres of the brain.

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Split-Brain People

Individuals who have undergone surgery to sever their corpus callosum, resulting in independent processing in each hemisphere.

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Right Hemisphere Function

Specializes in spatial reasoning, emotions, and nonverbal communication. It excels at perceiving overall patterns and emotions.

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Left Hemisphere Function

Focuses on language, logic, and analytical thinking. It excels at processing details and language.

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Split Brain: Initial Conflicts

Immediately after surgery, the two hemispheres of a split-brain person often act independently, sometimes leading to conflicting actions.

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Split Brain: Learning to Cooperate

Over time, the brain learns to use smaller connections between the hemispheres to avoid conflicts and even cooperate.

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Hemisphere Dominance

While research suggests some functions are more specialized in one hemisphere, it's important to remember that both sides of the brain collaborate for most tasks.

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Broca's area

A small region in the frontal lobe of the left hemisphere of the brain that is crucial for language production.

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Broca's aphasia

A language impairment characterized by difficulty in producing fluent speech, typically caused by damage to Broca's area.

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Sensitive Period for Language

A specific time period early in life when the brain is highly sensitive to language input and learning is most effective.

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Bilingual Brain

The brain of a bilingual individual demonstrates increased bilateral brain activity during speech for both languages and thicker temporal and frontal cortex.

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Language Critical Period

The early period of life when language learning occurs most effectively, and later acquisition can be challenging.

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Impact of Starting Language Learning Late

Individuals learning a second language beyond the critical period often struggle to achieve native-level proficiency.

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Deaf Children and Sign Language

Deaf children who learn sign language at a young age develop language skills comparable to hearing children learning spoken language.

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Study Notes

Endogenous Rhythms

  • Endogenous circannual rhythm: Internal calendar preparing species for annual seasonal changes.
  • Endogenous circadian rhythm: Internal rhythms lasting approximately a day, regulating wakefulness and sleepiness. In humans, circadian rhythm is approximately 24 hours.
  • Circadian rhythms affect many bodily functions including: eating, drinking, urination, hormone secretion, drug sensitivity, and body temperature (fluctuates around 36.7°C at night and 37.2°C in the late afternoon).
  • Circadian rhythms influence mood, with average positive mood increasing from waking to late afternoon before declining towards bedtime. Most people report their happiest mood around 5pm.

Setting and Resetting the Biological Clock

  • Zeitgeber: External stimulus necessary for resetting the circadian rhythm. Light is the most significant zeitgeber for terrestrial animals.
  • Astronauts experience difficulty maintaining alertness and sleep-wake cycle due to artificial light cycles. Daylight savings time can impact sleep-wake cycles and create sleepiness during the day for many individuals.
  • Individuals use other zeitgebers (noise, meals, etc.) for sleep-wake cycle regulation when light isn't available or reliable.
  • Jet lag: Disruption of biological rhythms due to time zone crossing.
    • Phase-delay: traveling West, body clock adjusts later to new schedule.
    • Phase-advance: traveling East, body clock adjusts earlier to new schedule.
  • Repeated adjustments of circadian rhythms can lead to increased cortisol, potentially damaging the hippocampus and affecting memory.
  • Shift work: Night-shift workers often find it difficult to adjust their sleep-wake cycles, experiencing fatigue during the day or difficulties falling asleep at night.

Stages of Sleep

  • Sleep: decreased responsiveness to stimuli.

  • Coma: prolonged unconscious state with low brain activity.

  • Vegetative state: alternating periods of sleep and awareness.

  • Minimally conscious state: occasional purposeful actions and limited communication.

  • Brain death: absence of brain activity.

  • Electroencephalography (EEG): Records electrical brain activity, used to identify sleep stages.

  • Polysomnography: Combined EEG and eye-movement recordings used to monitor sleep stages.

    • Alpha waves (8–12 Hz): Relaxed wakefulness.
    • Stage 1 sleep: Light sleep with irregular, jagged, low-voltage waves.
    • Stage 2 sleep: Characterized by sleep spindles (12-14Hz, 0.5-second bursts) and K-complexes (high-amplitude waves).
    • Stages 3 & 4 sleep (slow-wave sleep (SWS)): slow, large-amplitude waves; deep sleep characterized by slow brain waves.
    • REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep: high-frequency, low-voltage waves during dreaming, muscle relaxation/paralysis.

  • Paradoxical Sleep (REM Sleep): Brain is highly active, muscles are relaxed, associated with dreaming.

  • Night terrors: sudden awakenings from NREM sleep, common in children, usually occurring early in the night.

  • Sleepwalking: episodes of walking during NREM sleep, more prevalent in children.

Sleep and Energy Conservation

  • Sleep plays a role in conserving energy, particularly important for animals during times of food shortage, like hibernation.

  • Some species never sleep (e.g., dolphins after giving birth, certain fish).

  • Animals can increase sleep during food shortages.

  • Animals vary in sleep habits depending on daily challenges (i.e., predation, food availability).

Sleep and Memory

  • Sleep improves memory consolidation by strengthening some neural pathways and enhancing memory storage.
  • REM Sleep appears to be involved in consolidating emotional and declarative memories.

Neurocognitive Hypothesis (Dreaming)

  • Sensory stimulation, either internal or external, stimulates parts of the parietal, occipital, and temporal cortex during sleep. Visual information overrides stimulation and lack of prefrontal cortex censorship allows these perceptions to evolve into hallucinations (i.e dreams).

Key terms

  • Sleep, Coma, Vegetative State, Minimally Conscious State, Brain Death, EEG, Polysomnography, Alpha Waves , Stage 1 Sleep, Stage 2 Sleep, SWS, REM, Night terrors, Sleepwalking, and other defined terms.

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Description

Explore the fascinating concepts of endogenous rhythms, including circadian and circannual rhythms, and their impact on our daily lives. Learn how external stimuli, known as zeitgebers, play a crucial role in resetting our biological clocks. This quiz will test your knowledge on the effects of these rhythms on sleep, mood, and bodily functions.

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