More handpicked essays just for you.
Discuss circadian rhythms sample essay tutr 2 u
The impact of circadian rhythms is best illustrated by
Discuss circadian rhythms sample essay tutr 2 u
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Discuss circadian rhythms sample essay tutr 2 u
The circadian rhythm is the internal biological clock, consisting of genes and their protein product that are responsible for the “rhythmical” pattern of physiological and behavioral changes within an organism. This process has the ability to “synchronize” its cycles to external environmental stimuli and is regulated by the superchiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the mammalian brain [1]. Melatonin, the primary hormone released from the pineal gland of the brain, along with its two G protein-coupled receptors- Mel1a and Mel1b- play a key role in the sleep cycle controlled by the circadian rhythm. When Mel1a is stimulated by melatonin, the receptor inhibits the neurons of the SCN from firing to all stimuli except for those that induce a deviation from
Miller, Susan, Karen Springer, Peter Katel, and Binnie K. Fisher. "Melatonin Mania." Newsweek November 6, 1995: 60-63.
In order to discuss Melatonin as a drug and its effects on behavior we need to define Melatonin and what role it plays in relation to brain and behavior. Melatonin is a hormone that is secreted into the bloodstream by the pineal gland. The pineal gland is a small, pea sized structure near the center of the brain. Signals from the eyes regulate the secretion of Melatonin. A person's internal clock, will fluctuate between a 23-25 hour a day cycle. Therefore, our Melatonin levels decrease and increase with the rising and setting of the sun, which aid to putting an individual on a 24 hour awake/sleep cycle.(1)
The notion of circadian rhythms was first documented in the eighteenth century when it was determined based on observation that the closing and opening of heliotrope plant leaves occurred independently of sunlight, which was recorded by the French astronomer de Mairan. It is clearly evident now that almost all surfaces of physiology exhibit rhythmic oscillations from the simplest of bacteria to us human beings (10). As a biological clock, circadian rhythms develop to accomplish a steady entrainment to environmental cycles such as light. Additionally, circadian rhythms also serve two main functions, which is to measure the duration of time and to track the time of the day. These two functions are intertwined with one another being that both
Circadian rhythms are endogenous and self sustaining in all animals and plants. These rhythms are present in the absence of environment clues such as light, temperature and social clues. In absence of clues, animals free run in constant darkness due to programmed genetic interactions. Some of the genes involve in this processes are Per, Clock and Cry. The expressions of these genes are tightly regulated at molecular level by proteins which bind to promoters and repressors to create a rhythm throughout the day. For example, bmal and clock bind to ebox region to produce cry and mper proteins (Hong and Chong, 2007). These proteins are concentration dependant which means high level binds to repressor region to avoid further transcription. Such oscillations work on close to 24 hour cycle in animals and plants. These processes occur without any environmental clues. In case the environment clues are introduced to animals, they tend to synchronize internal clock with external signals. One such example of synchronization is shown in dorsophilia which increase Tim protein at night and the presence of external light decrease the production of Tim protein. This results into phase delay in dorsophilia (Leuloup and Goldbeter, 2001).
Another reason for the difficulty of sleep research is the pace of discovery. The field moves too fast for its own good. As a result, no comprehensive beginner’s text is available in the field of circadian rhythms. By the time...
During the winter quarter of 2014, biology 155 students examined for one week circadian body rhythms during “normal” activity and rest periods. The students had to go to sleep between 10 and 12 o’clock, wake up around 6 and 8 in the morning and had to do usual activities for it to be considered a “normal” day in a week’s period. During a 24 hour period students had to interrupt their “normal” sleep period in order to collect some data. Every 2 hours, 12 times in total, three function tests were conducted in the same order and had to be written do...
Our bodies rely on two different things to let our bodies know when we need to be asleep. One is called the circadian rhythm, which is the physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a twenty four hour cycle, that revolves around the light and dark of the day. Basically, our bodies are like our own little clocks which are controlled by a part of the brain called the suprachiasmatic
We live our entire life in two states, sleep and awake1. These two states are characterized by two distinct behaviors. For instance, the brain demonstrates a well-defined activity during non-REM sleep (nREM) that is different when we are awake. In the study of sleep by Huber et. al., the authors stated that sleep is in fact a global state2. It is unclear whether this statement means that sleep is a state of global behavioural inactivity or the state of the global nervous system. The notion that sleep is a global state of the nervous system served as basis for sleep researchers to search for a sleep switch. The discovery of the sleep switch, in return, provided evidence and enhanced the notion that sleep is a global state of the nervous system. The switch hypothesis developed from the fact that sleep can be initiated without fatigue and it is reversible1. It was hypothesized that there is something in the brain that has the ability to control the whole brain and initiate sleep. Studies have found a good candidate that demonstrated this ability3. They found a group of neurons in the Ventrolateral Preoptic (VLPO) nucleus. It was a good candidate because it was active during sleep, has neuronal output that can influence the wakefulness pathway, and lesion in the area followed reduce sleep3. The idea that there is something that can control the whole brain and result sleep state supports the idea that sleep is a global state of the nervous system.
Sleep is regulated by the Superchiasmatic Nucleus (SCN). The SCN coordinates the bodies sleeping habits based on external environments. However, there are subsidiary regulating factors that also help the SCN regulate sleep. One of these factors is called the Histadine Decarboxylase enzyme (HDC). HDC regulates the release of Histamine a biochemical used to induce vigilance and prevent sleep. [1] Levels of sleep consistencies can be measured by the amount of Rapid-Eye Movement (REM) phases entered in one sleeping cycle. Therefore, by decreasing the level of activation of HDC will result in an increase of REM phases in one sleep cycle duration.
Sleep is a necessary phenomenon that impacts many physiological processes in the human body, including immune system function. The immune system can be divided into two main categories: innate immunity and adaptive immunity1. The adaptive immune system is responsible for fighting against specific pathogens or antigens and a memory component is involved. Additionally, its response is longer than an innate immune response, upon its first exposure to said antigen or pathogen. In contrast, the innate immune system responds much faster, however there is no memory component involved. For instance, an individual could be exposed to a rhinovirus more than once and become sick each time. This is different than the adaptive immune response because once
Melatonin helps to regulate the sleep cycle, allowing the body to return to a regular sleep routine. This is of importance, as melatonin levels tend to naturally decrease as a person ages. In addition, the product contains L-Theanine, an amino acid which helps to increase alpha-wave activity and relax the mind.
“The current explosion of digital technology not only is changing the way we live and communicate, but is rapidly and profoundly altering our brains (Carr). When someone stays up all night staring at their cell phone, it is changing their sleep schedule. Blue enriched light that is emitted from mobile devices can suppress the body’s release of melatonin at night (Hiscott). Melatonin is the key hormone that controls someone 's internal clock, and when not enough is released, a body is oblivious to when it is supposed to be asleep. Sleep is crucial for successful development in a young child’s
According to Britannica, a person’s sleep and wake cycle, called the circadian rhythm, is regulated by melatonin production. Melatonin is a hormone that causes us to become tired. It causes changes that promote sleep, such as the body temperature and breathing rate decreasing. The production of melatonin is influenced by light. The retina detects light, and cells in the retina send signals to the brain about the light stature. Then depending on how much light there is the melatonin either ramps up production or is limited. More light equals limited melatonin, causing us to be awake, and low light equals more melatonin, so we fall asleep. That is how the light chan...
With the mentor Rekha Balachandran, her research project is astonishing to me due to the concentration on circadian rhythm. As my background in psychology and biology, I have acknowledged that circadian rhythm is known to play a significant role in human physiological wellness. Disruption in circadian rhythm could affect metabolism poorly with the involvement of eating disorder as well as difficulties in storing information in short-term memory; improper functioni...
In a majority of circadian rhythms there seems to be major components which include an endogenous component (which is regulated by an internal clock located in the hypothalamus) and an exogenous component. This exogenous component is made up of different clues in time in the world around us....