Discuss psychological research into body rhythms

... Discuss psychological research into body rhythms Body rhythms are periodically repeated patterns which occur within the body and are governed by internal factors known as endogenous pacemakers, such as hormones and external factors known as exogenous 'zeitgebers' (time-givers), such as light and dark. The three main classifications of body rhythms are: Circadian is a twenty-four hour cycle, for example sleep and wakefulness, Ultradian is less than the twenty-four hour cycle, for example sleep stages and Infradian which is longer than the twenty-four hour cycle, for example the menstrual cycle. Over the years there have been numerous experiments to establish the causes of body rhythms and the effects of altering them. One theory which inspired such research was based on the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), which are the neurons situated in the hypothalamus. The SCN, in conjunction with the pineal gland, were predicted to be factors determining the regulation of the circadian rhythm. It

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