Psy 503: Rhythmic Aspects of Behavior

Course objectives.

The purpose of this three-credit graduate seminar is to introduce you to the general topic of rhythmic aspects of behavior. Since the topic is not one having specific background courses, it assumes no other prerequisite knowledge than general information in biology, mathematics, physics, psychology, and statistics (or, three out of five ain’t too bad!).

I am trying to eliminate a separate course packet that you would have to purchase by making available multiple copies of materials, and having other sources put on reserve. Of course you are free to photocopy those materials you want from any sources that I have or that become available.

Course content.

The greater part of this course will take up consideration of selected topics from the list, as well as from any others which we might generate and in which you may be interested. As many different topics will be selected as there are people in the class, one will be elected by each of you, depending upon your particular interests. Once topic selection has taken place, I will attempt to organize them into a logical chronology for presentation. Each of you will become the expert on your selected topic and will organize the study on it, as well as prepare a reasonable review paper on it in the format of a Psych. Bulletin or Psych Review article.

Selected Topics.

Chronobehavioral aspects of psychopathology

Chronobehavioral considerations of cognitive functioning

Circadian Rhythmicity as the basic unit of timing

Daily Rhythms in Performance

Developmental factors in sleep/wake

Dyschronism (including shiftwork) and health issues

Genetic and neuroendocrine mechanisms of organismic timing

Issues of measurement and the “masking” effect

Measurement of Morningness/Eveningness (as personality traits?)

One clock versus multiple-timer issue

Organismic Lunarity (alleged?)

Quantitative methods for rhythmic analysis

Seasonality of behaviors

Ultradian./infradian rhythmicities

Seminar presentations.

Typically, each Expert 1) will assign the class a general reading no later than the week beforehand and will ensure its availability; 2) will present a 1-hr lecture-discussion (orientation and overview) on the general topic, and 3) will be the lead discussant for up to 1 and 1/ 2 class sessions following the major presentation. During these times 2-4 specific research papers from the general topic will be assigned to class presenters and discussed.

Assuming that a minimum of seven people will be actively participating in this course, and that the last class day of Tues April 24 will be used as a wrap-up day, the first major presentation will be on March 12, with one major topic presentation each week thereafter and the follow-up topical specific-paper presentations at the next weekly session.

Course evaluation.

There will be two take-home exams. The first will be just prior to the major topics presentation and the second will be due at the beginning of finals week. The review paper will be due by the evening of the last meeting on April 24th. I would urge you to complete and turn in your paper as soon after your major presentation as you can. Also, your presentations will be evaluated in terms of how effectively you cover all of the topics elected or assigned to you. Style of presentation, other than organization and clarity of explanations, is on only secondary importance.

Preparatory assignments.

Prior to the major topic presentation s will be a series of preparatory assignments, along with lecture material that I will present that is basic to understanding the general area. Also, since I am working on a grandiose theoretical project that will completely shift the paradigm of scientific thought (no small thinking here!) and will include all of life (in my humble estimation) I will invite your close listening and criticism when I present during our early sessions my General resonancy theory of Life.

Historic background.

There are a number of general references on the topic of biological and behavior rhythms which I think you ought to become acquainted. Some I have in my own personal library, others the Pattee library has, and others that we will get by interlibrary loan, and off the web. I am generating this list and will get it to ;you as soon as possible. Each person will be assigned to do a quick in-class review of one of these books, giving us the flavor of the rhythmic variables manipulated and/or measured, types of experiments conducted, analytic methods used, kinds of results, and general types of implications.

There are now available some very good review papers on selected topics, some historically class and others very recent. We will read and discuss these, with one person selected to direct the discussion on it. By the end of this term we all ought to know quite well what is of importance in the area of biobehavioral rhythmic aspects of behavior. As an introduction to this course the first handout is a copy of the preface, first chapter, and glossary of my now out-dated book: Rhythmic aspects of behavior (Brown & Graeber, 1982). This will give you an over view of the general area and a working glossary for knowing the terms.

Selected general references.

U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment (1991). Biological rhythms: Implications for the worker, OTA-BA-463. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.

Batchelet, E. (1965). Statistical methods for the analysis of problems in animal orientation and certain biological rhythms. Washington: American Institute of Biological Sciences.

Biological Laboratory (1960). Cold spring harbor symposia on quantitative biology, vol 25, Biological clocks. Cold Spring Harbor, L.I., NY: Long Island Biological Association.

Brown, F. A., Jr., Hastings, J. W., and Palmer, J. D. (1970). The biological clock: Two views. New York: Academic Press.

Brown, F. M., and Graeber, R. C. (1982). Rhythmic aspects of behavior. Hillsdale, N.J: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Moore-Ede, M. C. Sulzman, F. M., and Fuller, C. A. (1982). The clocks that time us. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Rossi, E. L. (1991). The 20-minute break. Los Angeles: Jeremy Tarcher.

Palmer J. D. (1976). An introduction to biological rhythms. New York: Academic Press.