Chronobiology International

Chronobiology International is a scientific discipline that studies the biological rhythms and cyclic phenomena in living organisms. This field of study is interdisciplinary, involving biology, physics, and chemistry to understand the timing mechanisms in organisms.

Overview

Chronobiology is the study of biological rhythms and their mechanisms. These rhythms can be observed in many biological processes, from the cellular level to the behavior of whole organisms. The most well-known biological rhythm is the circadian rhythm, which operates on a roughly 24-hour cycle. Other important rhythms include ultradian rhythms (cycles shorter than 24 hours) and infradian rhythms (cycles longer than 24 hours).

Biological Rhythms

Biological rhythms are regular fluctuations in any living process. They are driven by biological clocks, which are the organism's internal timing devices. These clocks are synchronized with environmental cues, such as light and temperature, to keep the organism's internal processes in sync with the external world.

Circadian Rhythms

Circadian rhythms are biological rhythms that occur over a 24-hour cycle. They are driven by a master clock in the brain, known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The SCN receives light input from the eyes and adjusts the timing of the circadian rhythms accordingly.

Ultradian Rhythms

Ultradian rhythms are biological rhythms with a cycle shorter than 24 hours. Examples include the 90-minute REM sleep cycle and the 4-hour nasal cycle.

Infradian Rhythms

Infradian rhythms are biological rhythms with a cycle longer than 24 hours. Examples include the menstrual cycle in women and the seasonal migration patterns in birds.

Chronobiology in Medicine

Chronobiology has important implications in medicine. Many drugs have different effects depending on the time of day they are taken, a field known as chronopharmacology. Furthermore, disruptions to biological rhythms, such as jet lag and shift work, can have significant health impacts.

See Also

• Circadian rhythm sleep disorders
• Chronotherapy
• Chronotype
• Seasonal affective disorder