circadian rhythm

(noun)

The "internal body clock" that regulates the 24-hour cycle of biological processes in animals and plants.

Related Terms

Examples of circadian rhythm in the following topics:

  • Circadian Rhythms

    • The study of circadian rhythms (and biological temporal rhythms in general) is called chronobiology.
    • Circadian rhythms are important in determining human sleep patterns.
    • Circadian rhythms, as we’ve just discussed, are heavily influenced by light.
    • Circadian rhythms have a hand in determining when we are alert and when we become sleepy.
    • Analyze the role that circadian rhythms play in the sleep cycle

  • Epithalamus and Pineal Gland

    • Some functions of its components include the secretion of melatonin by the pineal gland (involved in circadian rhythms) and regulation of motor pathways and emotions.

  • Visual Processing

    • The SCN is a cluster of cells that is considered to be the body's internal clock, which controls our circadian (day-long) cycle.
    • The presence of light and darkness influences circadian rhythms and related physiology and behavior through the SCN.

  • The Influence of Genes on Behavior

    • In another example, Seymour Benzer discovered he could breed certain fruit flies with others to create distinct behavioral characteristics and change their circadian rhythms.

  • Schistosomiasis

    • Interestingly, the cercariae are released from the snail host in a circadian rhythm and depend on ambient temperature and light.

  • Pineal Gland and Gonads

    • Lastly, melatonin is involved in biological rhythms, particularly circadian rhythms such as the sleep-wake cycle and eating habits .
    • It is responsible for the production of melatonin, a hormone which acts as an antioxidant and is involved in the regulation of biological rhythms.

  • Functions of the Diencephalon

    • The hypothalamus controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, fatigue, sleep, and circadian cycles.
    • Some functions of its components include the secretion of melatonin by the pineal gland (involved in circadian rhythms) and regulation of motor pathways and emotions.

  • Catabolic-Anabolic Steady State

    • The balance between anabolism and catabolism is also regulated by circadian rhythms, with processes such as glucose metabolism fluctuating to match an animal's normal periods of activity throughout the day.

  • Seasonal Affective Disorder and Jet Lag

    • When traveling across a number of time zones, the body clock will be out of synchronization with the destination time, as it experiences daylight and darkness contrary to the rhythms to which it has grown accustomed: the body's natural pattern is upset, as the rhythms that dictate times for eating, sleeping, hormone regulation and body temperature variations no longer correspond to the environment nor to each other in some cases.
    • To the degree that the body cannot immediately realign these rhythms, it is jet lagged.
    • Bright light therapy is a treatment for SAD and circadian rhythm disorders.

  • Rhythm