Periodic homeostatic fluctuations of skin temperature in the sleeping and waking state. 1979

J W Doust

53 healthly persons were monitored for skin temperature by a Hardy dermal radiometer every 60 sec. Readings continued until a spontaneous cycle appeared. 32 subjects were examined awake and 21 while asleep. A spontaneous rhythm with a mean of 4.25 min was found for the awake subjects, and one of 8.33 for the asleep subjects. To confirm these findings longer recordings were made by a thermocouple electronic thermometer in a further 23 subjects. Observations were continued until the awake subject slept. The results were analyzed by autocorrelation. In 13 records the sleeping rhythm was significantly longer than the waking. Another thermocouple probe in 14 subjects was used to measure axillary temperature. In 7 subjects a shorter cycle was seen while awake and a longer one while they slept. The properties of a perceptual clock are reviewed. It is suggested that the relative awareness of the subject be added to them.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010507 Periodicity The tendency of a phenomenon to recur at regular intervals; in biological systems, the recurrence of certain activities (including hormonal, cellular, neural) may be annual, seasonal, monthly, daily, or more frequently (ultradian). Cyclicity,Rhythmicity,Biological Rhythms,Bioperiodicity,Biorhythms,Biological Rhythm,Bioperiodicities,Biorhythm,Cyclicities,Periodicities,Rhythm, Biological,Rhythmicities,Rhythms, Biological
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D001365 Axilla Area of the human body underneath the SHOULDER JOINT, also known as the armpit or underarm. Armpit,Underarm
D001683 Biological Clocks The physiological mechanisms that govern the rhythmic occurrence of certain biochemical, physiological, and behavioral phenomena. Biological Oscillators,Oscillators, Endogenous,Pacemakers, Biological,Biologic Clock,Biologic Oscillator,Biological Pacemakers,Clock, Biologic,Clocks, Biological,Oscillator, Biologic,Oscillators, Biological,Pacemaker, Biologic,Pacemakers, Biologic,Biologic Clocks,Biologic Oscillators,Biologic Pacemaker,Biologic Pacemakers,Biological Clock,Biological Oscillator,Biological Pacemaker,Clock, Biological,Clocks, Biologic,Endogenous Oscillator,Endogenous Oscillators,Oscillator, Biological,Oscillator, Endogenous,Oscillators, Biologic,Pacemaker, Biological

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