PSYC 388 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Nathaniel Kleitman, Circadian Rhythm, Circadian Clock
2 Nov 2020
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Sleepy feeling in early afternoon known as post-lunch dip - due to circadian biology, although large lunch & few drinks compound the feeling. Sleep, naps, alertness, mood, body temp & circadian rhythms intimately connected. First well-controlled attempt to study daily changes in human efficiency & alertness began in 1930s w/ work of nathaniel kleitman. Showed performance of wide range of factors such as tended to rise in morning & then fall after reaching peak around middle of day. Kleitman & richardson - lived 400 metres underground in mammoth cave, kentucky for over a month in 1938 to see how they would get on. Though kleitman said he could not sleep properly, richardson adapted. Kleitman discovered there was slight but regular fluctuation of body temp throughout day & peak efficiency occurred when body temp highest. By early 60s, obvious discomforts caused by night working & its potential health impairment were troubling researchers.
