Biomaterial Database

[Synchronization and dyschronism of human circadian rhythms]. 1996

A E Reinberg, and Y Touitou

Unité de Chronobiologie, Foundation A. de Rothschild, Paris, France.

Properties of biological rhythms are presented briefly as well as the conventional model dealing with the synchronizing effects of the day/night (or Light/Dark) alternation on the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) the master-clock, which is supposed to control all our rhythms. However, apart from the SCN role, a set of experimental arguments supports the existence of biological clocks in the brain cortex. The synchronization of the latter (resetting them and making their period = 24 h) may be achieved not only by the periodicity of physical Light/Dark signals but also by the periodicity of social signals involving perceptions with eyes, ears, nose and skin. Distribution of peaks and troughs of biological rhythms in the 24h scale reveals the organism's temporal order. Its alteration (dyschronism) results from a phase shift and/or a change in the period length of a rhythm with regard to the others. In human beings, dyschronism is a trivial phenomenon. It appears even if synchronizers are present, with interindividual differences. It is likely that dyschronism induces a set of symptoms in sensitive subjects, prone to react to it.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008954	Models, Biological	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
D002940	Circadian Rhythm	The regular recurrence, in cycles of about 24 hours, of biological processes or activities, such as sensitivity to drugs or environmental and physiological stimuli.	Diurnal Rhythm,Nyctohemeral Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythm,Nycthemeral Rhythm,Circadian Rhythms,Diurnal Rhythms,Nycthemeral Rhythms,Nyctohemeral Rhythms,Rhythm, Circadian,Rhythm, Diurnal,Rhythm, Nycthemeral,Rhythm, Nyctohemeral,Rhythm, Twenty-Four Hour,Rhythms, Circadian,Rhythms, Diurnal,Rhythms, Nycthemeral,Rhythms, Nyctohemeral,Rhythms, Twenty-Four Hour,Twenty Four Hour Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythms
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
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
D013493	Suprachiasmatic Nucleus	An ovoid densely packed collection of small cells of the anterior hypothalamus lying close to the midline in a shallow impression of the OPTIC CHIASM.	Hypothalamic Suprachiasmatic Nuclei,Hypothalamic Suprachiasmatic Nucleus,Suprachiasmatic Nuclei,Suprachiasmatic Nuclei, Hypothalamic,Suprachiasmatic Nucleus, Hypothalamic
D014195	Travel	MOVEMENT across different GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS.	Land Travel,Sea Travel,Land Travels,Sea Travels,Travel, Land,Travel, Sea,Travels,Travels, Land,Travels, Sea