...essay plan. Introduction AO1 Circadian rhythms are biological cycles that last around 24 hours There is a free running cycle controlled by an endogenous pacemaker working as a body clock which is internal to our biological system, such as the suprachiasmatic nucleus which receives information about light and dark directly from the retina of the eye and the pineal gland, which releases melatonin in relation to fading light. Melatonin acts upon the raphe nuclei which in turns produces serotonin, a chemical with an inhibitory or slowing down effect on the central nervous system. Also, circadian rhythms can be controlled by exogenous zeitgebers i.e. external time givers, such as light, temperature and social cues. Another circadian rhythm is body temperature, which is at its lowest at around 4.30 am. The core body temperature also lowers after lunch. Evaluation AO2 Siffre (1962)- He spent two months in an underground cave, without time cues and emerged on the 27th of September, but he thought it was the 20th of August. This suggests that the absence of exogenous zeitgebers, affected his perception of time, therefore giving evidence that endogenous pacemakers control our circadian rhythms. He then carried out further research to see if the absence of exogenous zeitgebers would affect his sleep- wake cycle. He spent six months in a cave, with no time cues, but artificial lights. He settled into a sleep wake cycle of around 25 hours. This therefore gives reliability and validity...
Words: 1715 - Pages: 7
...examining the relationship between REM sleep and memory. I will describe previous research and then research how REM and associated memory in young and older people. In a way, the sleep patterns of these two groups are very similar, but somehow are not. 1a For the adult brain changes sleep, REM sleep and slow wave to each other in cycles of about 90 minutes. Early in the evening, non-REM sleep is longer cycles, but as time passes, the REM cycles dominate. non-REM sleep involves minimal brain activity, EEG high amplitude and low frequency oscillations. REM sleep, on the other hand, involves a high amount of brain activity paradoxically and equally low amount of motor skills, with low amplitude and high frequency oscillations in the EEG. In the elderly, length and intensity of these cycles' occur in shorter periods. REM sleep occurs just and slow wave sleep occurs in shorter cycles. 1b REM sleep usually awakens the genitals in men and women. This effect is usually more deeply experienced in youth, with young men who have erection for a period of time that men and older. 1c When a person is awake and excited, high-frequency beta waves are observed. When a person is awake and relaxed, the low-frequency alpha waves are observed. In both REM and non-REM sleep-1, the waves are high frequency, low amplitude, and erratic. In non-REM-2 sleep, brain waves are a bit slower and less erratic, with brief bouts of high frequency brain activity. After REM-3 begins not sleep, the brain constantly emits...
Words: 1502 - Pages: 7
...Male / Female Brain Differences 1. State the functions of the following hormones for both men and women. Testosterone: For men, testosterone is the primary male sex hormone. This hormone functions to develop a man’s sex characteristics, including (adult) size penis and testes, if a man does not produce enough or any testosterone can maintain child-size genitals. Also, testosterone supports the final stages of sperm production; men who produce little to no sperm are considered infertile. Erectile function is also powered by testosterone, it is vital for the growth and development of “erectile tissues.” The ability to achieve and maintain an erection is also influenced by testosterone, by increasing the activity of a molecule that helps to regulate the movement of smooth muscles. The function of testosterone in a woman’s body is less known. However, testosterone does play a role in regulating female sexual function, such as desire, arousal and orgasms. It also found that this hormone affects the function of any female reproductive organs such as the clitoris, uterus, vagina, and ovaries. Although women with low testosterone levels don’t experience sexual dysfunction, there has also been evidence that testosterone levels rise in when reacting to sexual stimuli. Studies have shown when women masturbated to orgasm, the women's testosterone levels increased after orgasm. Vasopressin: Vasopressin is made in the brain in both men and women. However, the male hormone testosterone...
Words: 1253 - Pages: 6
...very long time. The curiosity of the human being supporting it, further aids in discovering the secrets hidden behind the way a human being is. Biological rhythms or circadian rhythms also make up one of the hidden secrets for the functions of the human beings and scheduling of various tasks. The terms Circadian is derived from Latin word Circa, “around” or “about” and diem or dies “day” meaning literally “about a day” or “around a day”. This circadian rhythm is already built in the complex human body but is regulated by external factors known as “zeitgebers”. The primary or the most important zeitgebers is ‘light’ which helps human automatically start a particular process in one’s life and controls various cycles at regular intervals. This may include sleep/wake cycle, eating habits, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or bipolar disorder. Scientists have long been researching the effects of disturbance of circadian rhythms and its consequences on the life of a human being. This paper also considers the facts that have been established in this area to identify and discuss the process undergoing in a human being and its complexities with a particular reference to circadian rhythms and bipolar disorder, its causes and how shall it be handled to ease a human at such discomfort. Literature Review: Biological rhythms -By taking the two words and breaking them down into their separate meanings a...
Words: 1992 - Pages: 8
...and pneumonic. It initially spread from trading vessels and then to cities, villages, and eventually the countryside. The plague arouse so fast, people didn’t know what to do and assumed leaving their home was the best option, when in reality it caused even more of a problem. The effects of the plague lasted several decades after it was gone by causing major social, cultural, and economic problems all over the world. Despite all of the studies, researchers still have many questions on why and how the disease chose its victims and how it escalated so quickly. In order to understand the sexual mortality pattern of the Black Death plague one must look at two questions “did either sex face an elevated risk during the epidemic or were men and women at equal risk of dying?” (DeWitte 222) Beneficial for this information, one must understand the concept of selective mortality. Selective mortality is the belief that certain individuals are more likely to die than others based on their physical and mental status. It is commonly related to the Darwinian concept...
Words: 2183 - Pages: 9
...difficult for one to deal with. Let’s start with health changes, as age is going up it also brings on the onset of many health issues. This could be heart problems, routine medical checkups for cancer such as prostate for men and breast cancer for women, and other health issues that can seriously hinder ones’ health such as diabetes. Physical functions may be hindered with age as well, such as the ability to work out for long periods of time, or being able to carry a lot of weight as once for a period of time. Also, in relation to a person’s dwindling strength, the older you get the less quick your reflexes and reactions are to various situations, such falling, or driving. Another over all problem occurring with age is a person’s intellectual health. A person who was so quick to catch on to different skills may take them a little longer to learn. Forgetfulness is also a troubling matter, which is usually tracked carefully so early signs of dementia Alzheimer’s can be monitored. Sexuality for both men and women starts even before birth. For example, males can have erections while still in the uterus and can be born with an erection. Through adolescence, children, both male and female, will go through curiosity phases. This is not only with themselves but the differences in others as well. Puberty happens and most youth experience an interest in the opposite, or...
Words: 866 - Pages: 4
...Human beings spend significant amount of their time into sleeping. During their sleep, human beings often experience the ‘magical’ state, the dream. In the dream, people maybe part of a Wonderful Wizard of Oz, horror stories or even reality shows. This chimerical state has caused dream researchers to question the cause of dream or even the contents of dream. Despite the fact that the state of dreaming has gathered researchers’ attention for long time, researchers have only begun to conduct thorough investigation on dreaming. However, as Robert E. Haskell (1986) states, “…The study of dreams and dreaming is an area of research that seems either to stimulate almost boundless, yet imaginative, theories regarding the meaning and function of dreaming; or conversely, it stimulates an equally boundless and irrational skepticism, denying any meaning or function to dreaming whatsoever…” (p.1). As stated, the field of dream research is very elusive. Pioneers in dream research, such Jung and Freud, developed various notions and models to explain the cause and content of dream, however, these theories and models are controversial and cannot be solidified. One of the most important factors that make dream research perplexing is the method of obtaining data. For example, as discussed later, participant drop out rate, small sample size and accuracy of data report hinder researchers from developing accurate notions on dreaming. In order to establish a solid explanation for dream, it...
Words: 1264 - Pages: 6
...7: States of Consciousness CHAPTER PREVIEW Consciousness is our awareness of ourselves and our environment. Conscious information processing enables us to exercise control and to communicate our mental states to others. Beneath the surface, unconscious processing occurs simultaneously on many parallel tracks. Our daily schedule of waking and sleeping is governed by a biological clock known as circadian rhythm. Our sleep also follows a repeating cycle. Awakening people during REM sleep yields predictable “dreamlike” reports that are mostly of ordinary events. Freud’s view that dreams can be traced back to erotic wishes is giving way to newer theories, for example, that dreams help us process information and fix it in memory or that dreams erupt from neural activity. Studies of hypnosis indicate that, although hypnotic procedures may facilitate recall, the hypnotist’s beliefs frequently work their way into subjects’ recollections. Hypnosis can be at least temporarily therapeutic and has the potential of bringing significant pain relief. Hypnosis may be an extension both of normal principles of social influence and of everyday splits in consciousness. Psychoactive drugs also alter consciousness. Depressants act by depressing neural functioning. Although their effects are pleasurable, they impair memory and self-awareness and may have other physical consequences. Stimulants act at the synapses by influencing the brain’s neurotransmitters. Their effects depend on...
Words: 3169 - Pages: 13
...Now I agree with that if the relationship is heterosexual but if not I cannot agree. Love is never the same in any relationship, meaning no two people love the same at the same time. People have misinterpreted lust for love. If you were never taught the difference then it might be a controlling factor in your relationship, whether it is good or bad, that might be a communication problem with two people. Sex is very important in any relationship, I do agree but it should not control the relationship or the two persons in the relationship. How often do we talk about our sexual acts with our friends and try to compare them, wrong move. Should we be evaluating our bedroom acts with that of another? We will share that before we share with our friends how much money we make. Differences in Partners Men and women are very different as it pertains to sex. Men do not place or attach affection or emotions to sex as do women. Women like to be held and men do not. Women like to be held while a man can reach his sexual peak and walk off or turn over and go to sleep. That may irritate the woman and if they are not good communicators, it may cause confusion in the relationship. Where women would...
Words: 883 - Pages: 4
...Psychological Disorders University of Phoenix Analyzing Psychological Disorders Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that makes it hard to tell the difference between what is real and what is not real. Schizophrenia makes it hard to think clearly, and have normal emotional responses. Act normally in social situations is also affected by this disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 1 percent of the U.S. population is diagnosed with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia has no exact known cause but is categorized as a brain disorder affecting the balance in neurotransmitter concentration of dopamine, glutamate and serotonin systems. Symptoms present in the disorder are positive, which means psychosis, or negative, which means affecting emotions and behavior. The primary areas of the brain implicated in schizophrenia are the forebrain, hindbrain and limbic system (LIVESTRONG, Aubri, John, 2011). The forebrain is the topmost and largest portion of the brain and includes the cerebral hemispheres which are divided into four lobes; they are the limbic system, thalamus, hypothalamus and corpus callosum. As a whole, the forebrain serves to control cognition which is the process of thinking, knowing, learning, judging, sensory and motor function, temperature regulation, reproduction, hunger, sleep cycle and emotional expression. It is within the frontal lobe where thought organization occurs, creating the delusional ideas that are a common positive symptom...
Words: 1928 - Pages: 8
...Dreams: What are dreams and what do they mean? Shanice Monteith The University of West Florida Abstract Dreams that take place while we sleep are one of the most fascinating aspects of human consciousness and are common among all of us. We all ask the same question, what is a dream? A researcher by the name of Sigmund Freud’s theory of dreams gives us a good insight about dreams. His theory is one of the best-known models of dream interpretation. There are also other types of theories that suggest to us what a dream is. Some say that dreams are simply random firing of memory neurons. Others say differently. I will try to show both sides of this controversy. This paper will examine what a dream is and what people interpret a dream to mean. It should also give you a broader perspective of dreams, go into detail of different theories regarding dreams and give you more insight of such a fascinating but complicated topic. There is also the case of nightmares which will be discussed briefly and why they occur when we dream. What are dreams and what do they mean There have numerous studies on what is a dream. A lot of controversy has happened because of this. Some people say it could be just simply random firing of memory neurons as stated earlier but not everyone thinks the same way. Others say there is a lot of detail that could go into finding out more about this topic so they begin to do more research to come up with different ideas about such a debating issue...
Words: 2233 - Pages: 9
...Analyzing Psychological Disorders Wendy M Tolliver PSY 240 April 10, 2011 Thea Lawton Analyzing Psychological Disorders Schizophrenia, referred to as a split personality disorder, is a chronic, severe, devastating mental illness that affects approximately 1% of the population, equivalent to more than 2 million people in the United States. Statistics indicates schizophrenia affects men about 1½ times more frequently than women. (National Comorbidity Survey, 1994) It is a psychotic mental disorders characterized by symptoms of thought, behavior, and social problems. The thought problems linked with schizophrenia described as psychosis, in that the individual thinking is totally out of touch with reality. The individual with this disorder may also have disorganized speech, and behavior, physically or careless behavior, extensively decreased behaviors or feelings, as well as delusions, which are ideas about themselves or others that have no basis in reality. The term schizophrenia first introduced in 1911. In 1887, Emil Kraepelin deemed it a separate mental illness. Regardless of recent history, (Addington, Bouchard, Goldberg, 2005) described throughout written history. Ancient Egyptian, Hindu, Chinese, Greek, and Roman writings described symptoms comparable to the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. During medieval times, schizophrenia, like other illnesses, often viewed as evidence of the sufferer possessed by spirits or evil powers. Schizophrenia is a multifaceted...
Words: 2236 - Pages: 9
...prettiness, but a better reason is that it describes the routine humdrum of the town's activities, since "how" also means "in a method or manner". The juxtapositions continue into the next line, "(with up so floating many bells down)". The rhythm of the line and the vowels emulate both the motion and the sounds of bells. This line occurs again later in the poem, and its function here is the same as it is there - to signify the passing of time. The next line is an ordered list of the seasons, also symbolizing the passing of time, describing anyone's activities as occurring continuously. The activities are grouped as failures (his didn't) and his successes (his did). Regardless of the outcome, anyone is singing and dancing, happily. The women and men of the next stanza are described as "little and small", referring not to their physical size but their capacity and willingness to explore new dimensions. In the next line, "anyone" serves a double meaning. The townspeople did not care for...
Words: 3346 - Pages: 14
...Dreams are successions of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep.[1] The content and purpose of dreams are not definitively understood, though they have been a topic of scientific speculation, as well as a subject of philosophical and religious interest, throughout recorded history. The scientific study of dreams is called oneirology.[2] Dreams mainly occur in the rapid-eye movement (REM) stage of sleep—when brain activity is high and resembles that of being awake. REM sleep is revealed by continuous movements of the eyes during sleep. At times, dreams may occur during other stages of sleep. However, these dreams tend to be much less vivid or memorable.[3] The length of a dream can vary; they may last for a few seconds, or approximately 20–30 minutes.[3] People are more likely to remember the dream if they are awakened during the REM phase. The average person has three to five dreams per night, but some may have up to seven dreams in one night.[4] The dreams tend to last longer as the night progresses. During a full eight-hour night sleep, most dreams occur in the typical two hours of REM.[5] In modern times, dreams have been seen as a connection to the unconscious mind. They range from normal and ordinary to overly surreal and bizarre. Dreams can have varying natures, such as frightening, exciting, magical, melancholic, adventurous, or sexual. The events in dreams are generally outside the control of the...
Words: 6296 - Pages: 26
...MARRIAGE GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING Subject Code MGG2601 Assignment 01 Due Date 02 APRIL 2013 Assignment Unique Number 298702 Student Number 43606733 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction to the family…………………………………………………………………………………………………2 Outline the family life cycle model………………………………………………………………………………….3 Identify the stage of the family life cycle that best resembles the stage Of the family that the couple is experiencing……………………………………………………………..6 Key Principles and second order changes the family is experiencing………………………6 The extent to which the couple’s family life cycle adheres to Carter and McGoldrick’s Model…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….7 The couple’s experiences pertaining to the preceding developmental stage Of the family life cycle…………………………………………………………………………………………………….8 Vertical Stressors……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..9 Horizontal Stressors……………………………………………………………………………………………………….10 System Level Stressors………………………………………………………………………………………………….11 The Couple’s Relationship Strengths……………………………………………………………………………11 Guidelines for couples…………………………………………………………………………………………………….13 Critique of the family life cycle model……………………………………………………………………….14 Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………16 1 Introduction to the family 1. I interviewed a young couple, the husband Bongai Jinguri, is thirty two years old. He is a Chartered Accountant working for a very reputable accounting firm in Harare. Bongai’s beautiful young wife is Lorraine...
Words: 5823 - Pages: 24
