In the animal world, there are animals that thrive by night, (nocturnal) or by day (diurnal). It is their nature and I would surmise it is a genetically induced characteristic.
Is the same applicable to human beings and if so, is it purely psychologically induced, or is it physical / genetic in origin, as well?
I'll use myself as an example. For as long as I can remember, I have always felt the sharpest mentally, and the most energetic, physically, between 3:00 pm and midnight. I'm somewhere in between diurnal and nocturnal. (By the way, is there a term for this?)
2006-10-31 06:20:23 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
I dunno about that terminology question, but i do know this... your habits are what you make them. if you stay up incredibly late almost daily, eventually that becomes your sleep pattern. if you can't be moved before noon everyday, but have the most afternoon energy, it's because your body eventually learns that that is the time you most need the energy. some people are different, but most people form habits both physical and mental. for instance, i always go to sleep at 12, and wake up at 7. if i break that pattern, i'm not used to it, so i'm off-kilter. however, i have the mosty energy between the hours of 3pm to 10pm. also, that's the energetic limits for me...caffeine and sugar, or anything really....none of that can give me any energy. i could drink a cup of coffee at 11:55, and come 12, i can konk out like normal. anyway, to answer your question, it's both...your mind knows that this schedule of yours is repetetive and consistent, so your body adapts to it.
2006-10-31 06:32:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pysical. The more light that is avalible the better we can see. We do not have highly develped hearing or smell that would help us navigate or detect danger at night. So, if we take it to the basic level we would be much better hunter gatherers during the day time. We would be much easier prey at night. We also have large brains which are perfect for imagining things that might be out there but are not really out there. We can alter our behavior and function at night but not as efficianlty as during the day unless we use modern inventions like electicity and the light to make up for our natural shoutcomings. If someone chooses to make use of these items all bets are off.
2006-10-31 06:52:31 · answer #2 · answered by Brian 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, I believe it is biturnal, but you would have to look hard for this word. As for the vision in animals to humans, animals have genetically transfered DNA to progeny in order to have this trait which actually started out as development in the first generation of that species. Humans are different though, they start off with a set vision due to genetics, but they develop eventually usually due to the fruits and vegetables we eat as well as your iris being one of the few animals' eyes that can adjust due to light. So if it is dark, your irises will become larger in order for your brain to receive this information of what is in front of you.
2006-10-31 06:36:13 · answer #3 · answered by Justin B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no dichotomy between physical and psychological and you are a animal also. It is nature via nurture and the sooner this is accepted the sooner questions such as this will not be ask-able.
2006-10-31 08:08:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Humans, like many other animals, do have times where they feel the most alert. I suspect that there's something in our genes that makes up predisposed to a certain time when we feel like we wake up; however, I also think that humans are able to change their behavior when it comes to sleep patterns and it may change as we age.
2006-10-31 06:24:24 · answer #5 · answered by darthbouncy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
But psychological traits can be influenced by genetics (e.g. IQ), so I'm not sure you will be able to cleanly resolve this.
2006-10-31 06:25:40 · answer #6 · answered by WildOtter 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋