PSYC1004 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Rapid Eye Movement Sleep, Circadian Rhythm, Slow-Wave Sleep
26 Oct 2018
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Document Summary
Circadian rhythm is the cycle of sleep and waking in humans and other animals. It is a biological process that evolved around that daily cycles of light and dark. It is thought to being before birth as foetuses begin showing rhythms in eth womb. The natural alarm clock which enables some people to wake up more or less when they want to is caused by a burst of hormones called melatonin (melatonin levels gradually diminish throughout day light hours). Melatonin is also in charge of sexual arousal, thus in winter months or areas with low day light, sexual arousal is decreased. Circadian rhythms account for the difficulties faced when people cross time zones, or have frequently changing shifts (eg nurses). Theses people suffered many health issues due to this disruption in their circadian rhythm. Some people can still function well when their rhythm is disturbed, others become irritable and efficient.
