Outline and evaluate infradian and/or ultradian rhythms

(16 marks)
A01
Ultradian rhythms​ last for ​less than a day​, and a good example of this is the stages of sleep;
wherein the body goes through the 5 stages of sleep lasting 90 minutes.
Stages 1 and 2​ (light sleep) where the brain produces​ alpha and beta waves​, and eventually
theta​ waves as a person starts ​falling asleep​ (frequency increases).
Stages 3 and 4​ are known as ​slow wave sleep​, this is when the brain produces ​delta waves
and when the body is thought to go through ​physiological repair​ due to the ​release of growth
hormones.
Stage 5​ is ​rapid eye movement sleep​ (REM) with EEG activity resembling that of an awake
brain, this is when the brain performs ​learning consolidation​.

A03
Supporting research​ has been found into the ultradian rhythm of the 5 stages of sleep.
Research suggests that in ​REM sleep people dream​. ​Dement and Kleitman​ ​woke​ up ptts
during the night when brain activity was ​characteristic of REM sleep​. Ptts were ​highly likely
to be dreaming​ at this time, with ​some​ having ​matching eye movement in synchronisation
of the dream​ they were having.
However,​ findings were ​not absolute​ as there was ​widespread individual differences​ found
as ​dreams​ were ​recorded outside of REM sleep​. Therefore suggesting that other factors may
have affected their dreaming so ​more research is needed​ before firm conclusions are drawn.

A01
Infradian rhythms​ last​ longer than 24 hours​, but ​less than a year​.
The ​menstrual cycle​, lasts approximately ​28 days​, this happens when the ​pituitary gland
releases hormones​ which ​stimulate a follicle​ in an ​ovary​ to ​ripen an ovum​, which​ triggers
the ​release of oestrogen​. When the ​egg is ready​, ​progesterone​ is ​released​ to help the​ lining
of the uterus become ​thicker in preparation​ for pregnancy. ​After 2 weeks​, if there’s ​no
fertilisation, progesterone levels decrease​ and the ​lining​ of the uterus/womb​ sheds.

A03
To evaluate the ​menstruation cycle as an infradian rhythm​,​ research​ has suggested that
although​ it’s ​normally​ an ​endogenous system naturally controlled by hormones​, it can
also be ​influenced by exogenous cues​. It’s been shown that ​women living together​, tend to
synchronise​ their menstruation each month.​ In a study,​ ​sweat from one group of women
rubbed on the upper lips​ of another​ separate group​ resulted in ​both groups menstruating
at the same time as the sweat donor​. This is due to the ​pheromones present in sweat​, an
exogenous cue​ which ​altered​ the women’s i​ nfradian rhythm​, ​contradicting​ the idea that it is
a ​free-running rhythm​.
A01
Seasonal affective disorder​ (SAD), is another example of an infradian rhythm (occuring once
a year), which is a ​depressive condition ​during the ​winter months​, as a result of ​longer
hours of darkness​ and fewer hours of sunlight. It’s thought to be caused as ​more darkness
increases melatonin levels which decrease serotonin​, making the individual ​display
depressive symptoms.

A03
SAD​ could in fact ​not​ be an ​infradian rhythm​ but instead a ​disrupted circadian rhythm​ due
to ​exogenous zeitgebers​. As the ​winter months​ set in, people ​get up​ at the ​same time​, but
may choose to ​go to bed earlier as it’s dark​. This could lead to ​confusing the body​ into
thinking​ time is shifting​ resulting in ​negative symptoms similar to depression​.

There are significant real world ​practical applications​ with the research into infradian rhythms.
The research helps us understand the ​impact of darkness in SAD​, and can therefore be used
to develop effective therapies; ​phototherapy​ uses strong lights (majorly blue light) in the
evening to ​change levels of melatonin and in turn serotonin​, which helps ​reduce
depressive symptoms​. Phototherapy is ​noninvasive​ and has ​no side effects​, ​unlike​ other
methods of treating depressive symptoms (​drug therapy​ - SSRIs). Therefore the research into
biological rhythms is an important area of applied psychology that can be used to benefit
society.