Circadian Rhythm Experiment: Words Per Minute. Essay, Research Paper

Circadian Rhythm Experiment: Words per Minute. Comparing the amount of words typed in a minute during the morning and night helped me to determine the effects of circadian rhythms in my daily routine. To get a good amount of time so I could get comprehensive results, I conducted these one minute typing sessions over the span of a week. In the morning, the session started around 10am; during the night I started typing around 10pm, so during neither time would I be too groggy or tired. To minimize variables, I chose to type from Kurt Vonnegut Jr. s novel, God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. The book doesn t contain too much dialogue so I wouldn t have to use excessive punctuation and the mixed vocabulary of vernacular and elaborate vocabulary provided for a good cross section of text. I also read the book a while ago so not all of the events that transpire in the book would hinder me. Also I would not immediately start typing for a minute, instead I would spend around five minutes warm up by writing email and just manipulating the keyboard.

The morning usually is slow for me as I go to bed fairly late and wake up at approximately 9am every day. After waiting for an hour to shower, eat breakfast, and get settled I am usually ready for activity. However the amount of activities that I tend to do in the mornings has remained low and it translated to my typing experiment. At night I am very settled in and have a day s work behind me. Depending on whether I am at class or at work, both energize me afterwards and I usually have energy saved to conduct chores, do homework, and go out during the night. The mornings are a time where I have to adapt to my surroundings and it usually takes a while, most likely I am fully awake when I am at work or at class. This experiment has shown that my circadian rhythms have revolved around the night.