entrainment
(noun)
The alignment of an organism's circadian rhythm to that of an external rhythm in its environment.
Examples of entrainment in the following topics:
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Circadian Rhythms
- In order to maintain synchronization (a.k.a. entrainment) to a 24-hour cycle, external factors must play some role; of these factors, light exposure to the eyes is the strongest.
- But the retina also contains specialized ganglion cells, which are photosensitive and project directly to the SCN, where they help in the entrainment of this master circadian clock.
- The mechanisms by which light affects entrainment are not yet fully known.
- However, studies have shown that timing of light exposure, the length of light exposure, and the intensity/wavelength of light all influence entrainment and circadian rhythms.