Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Biological Rhythms pp 3–10Cite as

A Survey on Biological Rhythms

  • Chapter

Abstract

The recurrence of any event within a biological system at more-or-less regular intervals can be considered a biological rhythm (Kalmus, 1935). The notion of a rhythm is sufficiently vague (i.e., not defined in physical terms) to be useful in listing a wide variety of phenomena that might reflect quite different underlying mechanisms. In the attempt to classify rhythms, restrictive descriptions become necessary that depend on the criteria chosen. Rhythms may be distinguished according to (1) a characteristic such as frequency; (2) the biological system (e.g., a population) in which the rhythm is observed; (3) the kind of process that generates the rhythm; or (4) the function that the rhythm fulfills. Some of these aspects are briefly touched upon in the following paragraphs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Aschoff, J. Zeitliche Strukturen biologischer Vorgänge. Acta Leopoldina, 1959, 21, 147–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aschoff, J. Survival value of diurnal rhythms. Symposia of the Zoological Society of London, 1964, 13, 79–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aschoff, J. Adaptive cycles: Their significance for defining environmental hazards. International Journal of Biometeorology, 1967, 11, 255–278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aschoff, J., and Wever, R. Biologische Rhythmen und Regelung. In Probleme der zentralnervösen Regulation. Bad Oeyenhausener Gespräche V. Berlin-Göttingen-Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, 1962, pp. 1–15.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Brüning, W. Chronobiologische Untersuchungen über die Sterbehäufigkeit von Kurpatienten im Verlauf von Bäderkuren. Diss. Marburg, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiba, Y., Cutkomp, L. K., and Halberg, F. Circaseptan (7-day) oviposition rhythm and growth of spring tail, Folsomia candida (Collembola: isotomidae). Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research, 1973, 4, 59–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daan, S., and Slopsema, S. Short-term rhythms in foraging behaviour of the common vole, Microtus arvalis. Journal of Comparative Physiology, 1978, 127, 215–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Debry, G., Bleyer, R., and Reinberg, A. Circadian, circannual and other rhythms in spontaneous nutrient and caloric intake of healthy four-year olds. Diabetes and Metabolism (Paris), 1975, 1, 91–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dierschke, D. J., Bhattacharya, A. N., Atkinson, L. E., and Knobil, E. Circhoral oscillations of plasma LH levels in the ovariectomized rhesus monkey. Endocrinology, 1970, 87, 850–853.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doehring, C. H., Kraemer, H. C., Keith, H., Brodie, H., and Hamburg, D. A. A cycle of plasma testosterone in the human male. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1975, 40, 492–500.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elton, C., and Nicholson, M. The ten-year cycle in members of the lynx in Canada. Journal of Animal Ecology, 1942, 11, 215–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Empson, J. Periodicity in body temperature in man. Experientia, 1977, 33, 342–343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Exley, D., and Corker, C. S. The human male cycle of urinary oestrone and 17-oxosteroids. Journal of Endocrinology, 1966, 35, 83–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fitzgerald, K. M., and Zucker, I. Circadian organization of the estrous cycle of the golden hamster. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 1976, 73, 2923–2927.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, S., and Fisher, C. On the presence of a rhythmic, diurnal, oral instinctual drive cycle in man: A preliminary report. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 1967, 15, 317–343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Globus, G. G., Phoebus, E. C., and Boyd, R. Temporal organization of night worker’s sleep. Aerospace Medicine, 1972, 43, 266–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Globus, G. G., Phoebus, E. C., Humphries, J., Boyd, R., and Sharp, R. Ultradian rhythms in human telemetered gross motor activity. Aerospace Medicine, 1973, 44, 882–887.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halberg, F. Physiologic 24-hour periodicity: General and procedural considerations with reference to the adrenal cycle. Zeitschrift für Vitamin-, Hormon- und Fermentforschung, 1959, 10, 225–296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halberg, F., Engeli, M., Hamburger, C., and Hillman, V. D. Spectral resolution of low-frequency, small-amplitude rhythms in excreted 17-ketosteroids; probably androgen-induced circaseptan desynchronization. Acta Endocrinologica, 1965, 103, 1–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hensel, H., and Zotterman, Y. Quantitative Beziehung zwischen der Entladung einzelner Kältefasern und der Temperatur. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica, 1951, 23, 291–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hildebrandt, G. Grundlagen einer angewandten medizinischen Rhythmusforschung. Heilkunst, 1958, 7, 117–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holaday, J. W., Martinez, H. M., and Natelson, B. H. Synchronized ultradian Cortisol rhythms in monkeys: Persistence during corticotropin infusion. Science, 1977, 198, 56–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jameson, E. W., Heusner, A. A., and Arbogast, R. Oxygen consumption of Scelopours occidentalis from three different elevations. Comparative Biochemical Physiology, 1977, 56A, 73–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalmus, H. Periodizität und Autochronie (= Ideochronie) als zeitregelnde Eigenschaften des Organismus, Biologia Generalis, 1935, 11, 93–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kihlström, J. E. A sex cycle in the male. Experientia, 1966, 22, 630–632.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kinder, E. H. A study of the nest-building activity of the albino rat. Journal of Experimental Zoology, 1927, 47, 117–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kleitman, N. Sleep and Wakefulness. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kripke, D. F. An ultradian biologic rhythm associated with perceptual deprivation and REM sleep. Psychosomatic Medicine, 1972, 34, 221–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kronauer, R. E., Moore-Ede, M. C., and Menser, M. S. Ultradian Cortisol rhythms in monkeys: Synchronized or not synchronized? Science, 1978, 202, 1001–1002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lavie, P. Ultradian rhythms in the perception of two apparent motions. Chrono bio logia, 1976, 3, 214–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavie, P. Nonstationarity in human perceptual ultradian rhythms. Chrono bio logia, 1977, 4, 38–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavie, P., and Kripke, D. F. Ultradian rhythms in urine flow in waking subjects. Nature, 1977, 269, 142–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lehmann, U. Stochastic principles in the temporal control of activity behaviour. International Journal of Chro-nobiology, 1976, 4, 223–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, B. D., and Kripke, D. F. Ultradian rhythms in hand-mouth behavior of the rhesus monkey. Physiology and Behavior, 1977, 18, 283–286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maxim, P. E., Bowden, D. M., and Sackett, G. P. Ultradian rhythms of solitary and social behavior in rhesus monkeys. Physiology and Behavior, 1976, 17, 337–344.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mead, M. Sur l’obtention d’un rythme d’activité de période sept jours chez Scolopendra cingulate (Chilopodes). Revue du Comportement Animal, 1970, 4, 75–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nash, T. A. M., and Trewen, M. A. Hourly distribution of larviposition by Glossina austeni Newst and G. morsitans morsitans Westw. (Dipt., Glossinidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research, 1972, 61, 693–700.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nicholson, A. J. An outline of the dynamics of animal populations. Australian Journal of Zoology, 1955, 2, 9–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orr, W. C., Hoffman, H. J., and Hegge, F. W. Ultradian rhythms in extended performance. Aerospace Medicine, 1974, 45, 995–1000.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oswald, J., Merrington, J., and Lewis, H. Cyclical “on demand” oral intake by adults. Nature, 1970, 225, 959–960.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reiman, H. A. Periodic Diseases. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richter, C. P. Biological Clocks in Medicine and Psychiatry. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C Thomas, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richter, C. P. Artifactual seven-day cycles in spontaneous activity in wild rodents and squirrel monkeys. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1976, 572–582.

    Google Scholar 

  • Undt, W. Wochenperioden der Arbeitsunfallhäufigkeit im Vergleich mit Wochenperioden von Herzmuskelinfarkt, Selbstmord und täglicher Sterbeziffer. In G. Hildebrandt (Ed.), Biologische Rhythmen und Arbeit. Wien-New York: Springer-Verlag, 1976, pp. 73–79.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Vollrath, L., Kantarjian, A., and Howe, C. Mammalian pineal gland: 7-day rhythmic activity? Experientia, 1975, 31, 458–460.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yen, S. S. C., Vandenberg, G., Tsai, C. C., and Parker, D. C. Ultradian fluctuations of gonadotropins. In M. Ferin, F. Halberg, R. M. Richart, and R. L. Vande Wiele (Eds.), Biorhythms and Human Reproduction. New York: Wiley, 1974, pp. 203–218.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Verhaltensphysiologie, D-8131, Andechs, West Germany

    Jürgen Aschoff

Authors
  1. Jürgen Aschoff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck Institut für Verhaltensphysiologie, Andechs, German Federal Republic

    Jürgen Aschoff

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1981 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Aschoff, J. (1981). A Survey on Biological Rhythms. In: Aschoff, J. (eds) Biological Rhythms. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-6552-9_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-6552-9_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-6554-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-6552-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation