Question 1

The free-running daily cycle of human beings is _________ hours long.
A) between 22 and 23
B) between 23 and 24
C) between 24 and 25
D) more than 30

Accepted Answer

The free-running daily cycle of human beings, also known as the circadian rhythm when not influenced by external cues like light, is between 24 and 25 hours long.

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of a circadian rhythm?
A) sleep-waking cycles
B) menstrual cycles
C) seasonal migration
D) mating seasons

Accepted Answer

Circadian rhythms are daily biological rhythms that are regulated by a master clock in the brain. Sleep-waking cycles are an example of a circadian rhythm as they occur on a daily basis and are regulated by the body's internal clock. Menstrual cycles are not circadian rhythms as they occur over a longer time period and are regulated by other factors. Seasonal migration and mating seasons are not circadian rhythms as they occur on a yearly basis and are influenced by environmental factors.

Question 3

Cells forming the retinohypothalamic pathway contain
A) rhodopsin, the same photopigment found in rods.
B) a variety of color photopigments.
C) no photopigments.
D) the photopigment melanopsin.

Accepted Answer

Cells forming the retinohypothalamic pathway contain the photopigment melanopsin, which is sensitive to blue light and involved in regulating circadian rhythms.

Question 4

Professor West is lecturing on sleep cycles and tells his class that the axons that form the retinohypothalamic pathway
A) come from special ipRGC cells within the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN).
B) come from special cells called extrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells.
C) come from special cells called intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells.
D) come from special color-sensitive ganglion cells within the retina.

Accepted Answer

The retinohypothalamic pathway refers to the pathway which carries information about light from the eye to the hypothalamus. These axons originate from special cells called intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), which are distinct from the cells that contribute to image formation.

Question 5

The Jarmans' daughter just turned 15. They have found that she
A) has continued her previous patterns of sleep and waking.
B) requires less sleep than at other points in her life span.
C) has changed from being an "owl" to a "lark."
D) has changed from being a "lark" to an "owl."

Accepted Answer

Adolescents often experience a shift in their sleep patterns, becoming more "owl-like," meaning they tend to stay up later and wake up later.

Question 6

You've been in college in Orange County, California, and you've been asked to interview for graduate school at Harvard on the east coast. If you have a choice, what schedule should you set for yourself, given the issue of jet lag?
A) Fly out of LA at 5 p.m. PST and get into Boston at 2 a.m. EST for an 8 a.m. meeting with the dean the same day.
B) Fly out of LA at 7 a.m. PST and get into Boston at 4 p.m. EST for an 8 a.m. meeting with the dean the next day.
C) Fly out of LA at 7 a.m. PST and get into Boston at 4 p.m. EST for a 1 p.m. meeting with the dean the next day.
D) Fly out of LA at 11 p.m. PST and get into Boston at 4 a.m. EST for a 3 p.m. meeting with the dean the same day.

Accepted Answer

Option C allows for the most adjustment time after arrival before the meeting, reducing the impact of jet lag.

Question 7

Americans are believed to be somewhat sleep deprived because the average adult spends about _____ in bed (and not necessarily asleep).
A) three hours
B) five hours
C) seven hours
D) eight hours

Accepted Answer

The question states that the average adult spends that amount of time in bed, not necessarily asleep, indicating that they could potentially be sleep deprived. Option A and B are too low of a time frame to be believable for the average adult, and Option D may not always be accurate for every individual.

Question 8

How long does an ultradian cycle typically last?
A) about 24 hours
B) 90-120 minutes
C) half a year
D) 28 days

Accepted Answer

An ultradian cycle typically lasts between 90-120 minutes, characterized by recurring periods of heightened alertness and rest.

Question 9

The suprachiasmatic nucleus is located in the
A) midbrain.
B) hypothalamus.
C) pons.
D) medulla.

Accepted Answer

The suprachiasmatic nucleus is located in the hypothalamus, specifically in the anterior part of the hypothalamus, above the optic chiasm. It is responsible for regulating the body's circadian rhythms, including sleep-wake cycles and other physiological processes that follow a 24-hour cycle.

Question 10

Jet lag is
A) worse when one travels in an eastward direction.
B) worse when one travels in a westward direction.
C) worse when one travels in a northward direction.
D) dependent on distance traveled, not direction.

Accepted Answer

Jet lag is worse for people who travel in an eastward direction because they are crossing more time zones and losing hours in their day, which can disrupt their sleep-wake cycle. Traveling westward involves gaining hours, which can be easier for the body to adjust to.

Question 11

The CEO of Industrial Company X has found that his workers have the most accidents
A) at the end of each work week.
B) during the day.
C) at the beginning of each work week.
D) at night.

Accepted Answer

The answer of  The CEO of Industrial Company X has...

Question 12

Joshua, who is 19 years old, can't seem to get to sleep until about 2 a.m. and then struggles to get up on time in order to attend morning classes. It is most likely that Joshua
A) has always been an "owl" and will continue this pattern throughout his adulthood.
B) is currently an owl but may or may not change to another pattern during his 20s.
C) might not have been an owl previously but will now maintain this pattern for the rest of his life.
D) has been an owl up to young adulthood but will change to a new pattern later in his 20s.

Accepted Answer

According to research on chronotypes (patterns of circadian rhythms), individuals tend to be "owls" during their teenage years and early 20s, but may transition to a "lark" pattern as they age. Therefore, it is possible that Joshua may transition to a different chronotype as he gets older, but it is not guaranteed.

Question 13

Jack is studying for a quiz and records in his notes that the SCN is the ______ and ________.
A) suprachiasmatic nucleus; is the only biological clock in the body.
B) superficial cortical nucleus; is one of multiple, independent biological clocks in the body.
C) suprachiasmatic nucleus; may be viewed as the body's "master clock."
D) superficial cortical nucleus; responds more slowly to phase shifts than clocks in other types of tissue.

Accepted Answer

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is known as the body's "master clock" as it has the most influence over circadian rhythms and is the primary biological clock in the body.

Question 14

Evening and night shift workers experience
A) increased health problems, including higher rates of breast cancer.
B) increased mild health problems, such as more frequent colds.
C) about the same rate of health problems as workers on typical day shifts.
D) decreased health problems, as they are able to obtain greater amounts of sleep.

Accepted Answer

Evening and night shift workers have been found to have an increased risk of health problems, such as breast cancer, due to disruptions in their circadian rhythms and sleep patterns.

Question 15

Paul has been working the night shift for a long time. He likely has
A) developed shift maladaptation syndrome.
B) developed a reduced need for sleep.
C) increases in NREM.
D) no observable symptoms.

Accepted Answer

Paul's prolonged night shift work may have caused him to experience shift maladaptation syndrome, which includes symptoms such as impaired sleep, fatigue, and decreased cognitive function.

Question 16

Sleep patterns are most likely to change at puberty due to
A) social pressures to stay out late with friends.
B) a drop in the production of melatonin.
C) the need to sleep more due to the adolescent growth spurt.
D) changes in physical activity and eating patterns.

Accepted Answer

Sleep patterns are most likely to change at puberty due to a drop in the production of melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate sleep-wake cycles, and its production decreases during puberty. This can result in difficulty falling asleep at night and feeling sleepy during the day.

Question 17

Andrew is an officer on a nuclear submarine that on occasion stays submerged for months, preventing any exposure to natural sunlight. To help maintain his normal sleeping habits, Andrew should
A) not worry about sleep, because his internal biological clocks can function perfectly in the absence of sunlight.
B) not try to go to sleep unless he can barely keep his eyes open.
C) nap for 15- to 20-minute intervals once per day.
D) maintain a regular schedule of eating and physical activity.

Accepted Answer

Maintaining a regular schedule of eating and physical activity can help regulate Andrew's internal biological clock and improve his sleep patterns. Napping for short intervals once per day may disrupt his sleep schedule, and not trying to go to sleep until he is exhausted may lead to sleep deprivation. It is also not accurate to assume that his internal biological clocks can function perfectly in the absence of sunlight.

Question 18

The body's internal "master clock" is
A) the pons.
B) the occipital cortex.
C) the thalamus
D) the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

Accepted Answer

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is located in the hypothalamus and is considered the body's master clock. It regulates the body's circadian rhythms or 24-hour cycle, including sleep and wakefulness.

Question 19

External cues, such as the rising of the sun, used by animals to establish daily rhythms are known as
A) phase shifts.
B) zeitgebers.
C) entrainment signals.
D) circadian rhythms.

Accepted Answer

External cues that influence daily rhythms are known as zeitgebers. This includes factors such as the rising and setting of the sun, social interactions, and other environmental signals. Phase shifts refer to a disruption in the timing of a circadian rhythm, entrainment signals are the adjustments made by the internal clock to align with external cues, and circadian rhythms are the internal cycles that govern daily biological processes.

Question 20

School board member Lineman has proposed that his district change the school times so that classes begin later in the morning because he knows that this will
A) have little effect on school performance of children and teens.
B) boost school performance of elementary students but have no effect on teens and young adults.
C) improve school performance of teens and young adults.
D) decrease school performance of teens and young adults.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that teenagers and young adults benefit from later start times for school as their internal clocks tend to shift later during adolescence. This can result in better attendance, improved academic performance, and an overall increase in well-being.

Quiz 11: Sleep and Waking

The free-running daily cycle of human beings is _________ hours long.

Which of the following is an example of a circadian rhythm?

Cells forming the retinohypothalamic pathway contain

Professor West is lecturing on sleep cycles and tells his class that the axons that form the retinohypothalamic pathway

The Jarmans' daughter just turned 15. They have found that she

You've been in college in Orange County, California, and you've been asked to interview for graduate school at Harvard on the east coast. If you have a choice, what schedule should you set for yourself, given the issue of jet lag?

Americans are believed to be somewhat sleep deprived because the average adult spends about _____ in bed (and not necessarily asleep) .

How long does an ultradian cycle typically last?

The suprachiasmatic nucleus is located in the

Jet lag is

The CEO of Industrial Company X has found that his workers have the most accidents

Joshua, who is 19 years old, can't seem to get to sleep until about 2 a.m. and then struggles to get up on time in order to attend morning classes. It is most likely that Joshua

Jack is studying for a quiz and records in his notes that the SCN is the and __.

Evening and night shift workers experience

Paul has been working the night shift for a long time. He likely has

Sleep patterns are most likely to change at puberty due to

Andrew is an officer on a nuclear submarine that on occasion stays submerged for months, preventing any exposure to natural sunlight. To help maintain his normal sleeping habits, Andrew should

The body's internal "master clock" is

External cues, such as the rising of the sun, used by animals to establish daily rhythms are known as

School board member Lineman has proposed that his district change the school times so that classes begin later in the morning because he knows that this will