Scribd
Upload
37 views

Pacemakers and Zeitgebers Student

Endogenous pacemakers, like the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the brain, generate circadian rhythms. Exogenous zeitgebers, such as light exposure, synchronize the endogenous pacemakers to the 24 hour day-night cycle. Research on hamsters with genetic abnormalities in their circadian cycle provided evidence that transplanting their SCN into hamsters with normal cycles could shift the recipients' cycles to match the donors', demonstrating the SCN's role as an endogenous pacemaker. However, studies that involved harming animals or exposing them to risk raise ethical issues.

Uploaded by

Nour Sarhan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
37 views

Pacemakers and Zeitgebers Student

Endogenous pacemakers, like the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the brain, generate circadian rhythms. Exogenous zeitgebers, such as light exposure, synchronize the endogenous pacemakers to the 24 hour day-night cycle. Research on hamsters with genetic abnormalities in their circadian cycle provided evidence that transplanting their SCN into hamsters with normal cycles could shift the recipients' cycles to match the donors', demonstrating the SCN's role as an endogenous pacemaker. However, studies that involved harming animals or exposing them to risk raise ethical issues.

Uploaded by

Nour Sarhan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 11

Endogenous

Pacemakers &
Exogenous
Zeitgebers
Lesson Objectives

To understand the roles of endogenous pacemakers and


exogenous zeitgebers

Learning Line Evaluate research into


endogenous pacemakers
and exogenous zeitgebers
Outline research into
endogenous pacemakers and
exogenous zeitgebers
Define endogenous pacemaker
and exogenous zeitgeber
Outline examples
Challenge:
What is the SCN and how does this link to
circadian rhythms?
Research Studies You have 10
mins to
discuss your
findings on
this

Take Away Task:

Read through the studies


For each one complete the table
analysing these
Ralph et al (1990

Sample: Hamsters, some with a genetic abnormality affecting their circadian cycle.

Design: It was a laboratory vivisection study.

Method: a group of hamsters was identified with a genetic abnormality that resulted
in a 20- hour circadian cycle, rather than a 24-hour one. Their SCNs were removed
and placed in the brains of an experimental group of hamsters with a normal 24-hour
cycle. 

Result: eventually, the experimental group shifted to a 20-hour cycle

Evidence for the role of the SCN as an endogenous pacemaker

Methodological / ethical issues?


Extrapolation
DeCoursey et al. (2000)
DeCoursey et al. (2000) destroyed the SCN connections in the brains of 30
chipmunks who were then returned to their natural habitat and observed for 80
days.
It was found that the sleep/wake cycle of the chipmunks disappeared and by the
end of the study, a significant proportion of them had been killed by predators.
Presumably because they were awake and vulnerable to attack when they should
have been asleep!

Evidence for the role of the SCN as an endogenous pacemaker

Methodological / ethical issues?


Extrapolation
Ethics – the animals were exposed to considerable harm and subsequent risk,
when they returned to their natural habitat. Questionable about whether we have
learnt enough from this study to justify the procedure!
Cambell and Murphy (1998)

Demonstrated that light may be detected by skin receptors on the body even when the same
information is not received by the eyes.
15 participants were woken at various times and a light was shone on the back of their knees.
It was found that there was deviation from the participants usual sleep-wake cycle by up to three
hours in some cases.

Evidence for the role of light as an exogenous zeitgeber

Methodological / ethical issues?


• The findings from this study have yet to be replicated.
• Some have suggested that there may have been some limited light exposure to the participants’
eyes – a major confounding variable.
Any other supporting research?

Siffre’s Cave Study

Highlights the endogenous clock is


capable of maintaining biological
rhythms in the absence of
zeitgebers, but which needs light
input for perfect synchronisation
How is this
Lesson Objectives answered now!?!

To understand the roles of endogenous pacemakers and


exogenous zeitgebers

Learning Line Evaluate research into


endogenous pacemakers
and exogenous zeitgebers
Outline research into
endogenous pacemakers and
exogenous zeitgebers
Define endogenous pacemaker
and exogenous zeitgeber
Outline examples
Challenge:
What is the SCN and how does this link to
circadian rhythms?
Overall summary – psy boost

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ8rbd03
GyM
Exam Question

PLAN!!

20 marks

You might also like