Explanations and consequences of disrupting biological rhythms

Jet lag and Shift work

HideShow resource information
Jet lag occurs when the body clock is disrupted by crossing a number of time zones - There is a mismatch between the bodies clock (EP) and actual time (EZ) outside
Phase Delay - Travelling "east to west" is easy as body will find less difficulty adjusting to slightly longer days. Phase Advance - travelling "west to east" - More difficult as you have to go to bed earlier (an advance in sleep)
1 of 6
Phase advance is more difficult because...
If your day is shorter, your biological clock has not run its time
2 of 6
Shift work - Working at night goes against our circadian rhythms
Effects of this - Physical health, psychological well-being, economic consequences
3 of 6
Decreaed alertness
Nightworkers often experience a circadian "trough" of decreased alertness during their shifts. (Boivin et al) - Occurs between midnight, when cortisol levels are lowest and 4am, when core body temp at its lowest
4 of 6
Sleep deprivation
Workers who have to sleep by day often experience sleep problems because when they finish work it is daytime and there are other interruptions (eg noise outside) and daylight reduces sleep quality
5 of 6
Tilley and Wilkinson
Daytime sleep is typically between one and two hours shorter than a nocturnal sleep period; REM in particular is affected
6 of 6

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

If your day is shorter, your biological clock has not run its time

Back

Phase advance is more difficult because...

Card 3

Front

Effects of this - Physical health, psychological well-being, economic consequences

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Nightworkers often experience a circadian "trough" of decreased alertness during their shifts. (Boivin et al) - Occurs between midnight, when cortisol levels are lowest and 4am, when core body temp at its lowest

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Workers who have to sleep by day often experience sleep problems because when they finish work it is daytime and there are other interruptions (eg noise outside) and daylight reduces sleep quality

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Psychology resources:

See all Psychology resources »See all Sleep resources »