Abstract
As in other vertebrates, the human circadian system is characterized by a distinct temporal order of its components. This order is maintained by the coupling forces between various oscillators as well as by the entraining signals from the Zeitgebers (see Chapter 12). There is hardly a tissue or function that has not been shown to have some 24-hr variation. As an example, Figure 1 presents results of an experiment in which six subjects were held in groups of two on the same rigorous schedule. Although there were considerable interindi-vidual differences and also day-to-day variations, patterns like those shown in Figure 1 are satisfactorily reproducible. This reproducibility is again illustrated in Figure 2, which summarizes data on plasma Cortisol collected in six laboratories. To account for possible phase-controlling effects of sleep (see below), the curves are normalized with regard to the various sleep times of the subjects. Despite the fact that Cortisol, like many other hormones, is secreted in a highly variable sequence of episodes (see Chapter 12, Figure 1), a clear circadian pattern emerges in each curve, averaged from the data on n subjects, and there is perfect correspondence in phase and relative amplitude between the curves. It is noteworthy that two submaxima appear in all curves at about the same circadian phases. Presumably, they are not consequences of the usual meal timing but may represent a rhythm component interposed between the circadian domain and the episodes (cf. the discussion in Aschoff, 1979).
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Aschoff, J. Circadian rhythms in man. Science, 1965, 148, 1427–1432.
Aschoff, J. Features of circadian rhythms relevant for the design of shift schedules. Ergonomics, 1978a, 39, 739–754.
Aschoff, J. Problems of re-entrainment of circadian rhythms: Asymmetry effect, dissociation and partition. In I. Assenmacher and D. Farner (Eds.), Environmental Endocrinology. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer-Verlag, 1978b, pp. 185–195.
Aschoff, J. Circadian rhythms: General features and endocrinological aspects. In D. Krieger (Ed.), Endocrine Rhythms. New York: Raven Press, 1979, pp. 1–61.
Aschoff, J. Circadian rhythms: Interference with and dependence on workrest schedules. In L. C. Johnson, D. I. Tepas, W. P. Colquhoun, and M. J. Colligan (Eds.), The 24 Hour Workday. A Symposium on Variations in Work-Sleep Schedules. Washington, D. C: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1980a.
Aschoff, J. Wie gestört ist der circadiane Rhythmus bei Depressiven? In H. Heimann (Ed.), Neue Strategien in der Depressionsforschung. Symp. auf der Weitenburg, 1980b.
Aschoff, J., and Pohl, H. Phase relations between a circadian rhythm and its Zeitgeber within the range of entrainment. Naturwissenschaften, 1978, 65, 80–84.
Aschoff, J., and Wever, R. Human circadian rhythms: A multioscillator system. Federation Proceedings, 1976, 35, 2326–2332.
Aschoff, J., and Wever, R. Über Reproduzierbarkeit circadianer Rhythmen beim Menschen. Klinische Wochenschrift, 1980.
Aschoff, J., Gerecke, U., and Wever, R. Desynchronization of human circadian rhythms. Japanese Journal of Physiology, 1967a, 17, 450–457.
Aschoff, J., Gerecke, U., and Wever, R. Phasenbeziehungen zwischen den circadianen Perioden der Aktivität und der Kerntemperatur beim Menschen. Pflügers Archiv, 1967a, 295, 173–183.
Aschoff, J., Gerecke, U., Kureck, A., Pohl, H., Rieger, P., Saint Paul, U. von, and Wever, R. Interdependent parameters of circadian activity rhythms in birds and man. In M. Menaker (Ed.), Biochronometry. Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Sciences, 1971, pp. 3–27.
Aschoff, J., Ceresa, F., and Halberg, F. (Eds.). Chronobiological aspects of endocrinology. Chronobiologia, 1974, 1 (Supplement 1).
Aschoff, J., Hoffmann, K., Pohl, H., and Wever, R. Re-entrainment of circadian rhythms after phase shifts of the Zeitgeber. Chronobiologia, 1975, 2, 23–78.
Halberg, F., Johnson, E. A., Brown, B. W., and Bittner, J. J. Susceptibility rhythm to E. coli endotoxin and bioassay. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, 1960, 103, 142–144.
Haus, E., and Halberg, F. 24-Hour rhythm in susceptibility of C mice to a toxic dose of ethanol. Journal of Applied Physiology, 1959, 14, 878–880.
Haus, E., Halberg, F., Scheving, L. E., and Simpson, H. International cancer research workshop on Chron-otherapy of cancer—A critical evaluation. International Journal of Chrono bio logy, 1979, 6, 67–107.
Kriebel, J. Changes in internal phase relationships during isolation. In L. E. Scheving, F. Halberg, and J. E. Pauly (Eds.), Chrono bio logy. Stuttgart: Georg Thieme Verlag, 1974, pp. 451–459.
Krieger, D. T., Kreuzer, J., and Rizzo, F. A. Constant light: Effect on circadian pattern and phase reservai of steroid and electrolyte levels in man. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1969, 29, 1634–1638.
Lund, R. Personality factors and desynchronization of circadian rhythms. Psychosomatic Medicine, 1974, 36, 224–228.
Mills, J. N., Minors, D. S., and Waterhouse, J. M. Adaptation to abrupt time shifts of the oscillators controlling human circadian rhythms. Journal of Physiology, 1978a, 285, 455–470.
Mills, J. N., Minors, D. S., and Waterhouse, J. M. The effect of sleep upon human circadian rhythms. Chronobiologia, 1978b, 5, 14–27.
Pöllmann, L. Über spontan-rhythmische Schwankungen der Schmerzschwelle. Deutsche zahnärztliche Zeitschrift, 1977, 32, 180–182.
Reinberg, A., and Halberer, F. Circadian chronopharmacology. Annual Review of Pharmacology, 1971, 11, 455–492.
Reinberg, A., and Reinberg, M. A. Circadian changes of the duration of action of local anaesthetic agents. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Archiv für Pharmakologie, 1977, 297, 149–152.
Reinberg, A., Vieux, N., Ghata, J., Chaumont, A. J., and Laporte, A. Is the rhythm amplitude related to the ability to phase-shift circadian rhythms of shift-workers? Journal de Physiologie Paris, 1978, 74, 405–409.
Scheving, L. E., Mayersbach, H. von, and Pauly, J. E. An overview of chronopharmacology. Journal Européen de Toxicologie, 1974, 7, 203–227.
Webb, W. B., and Agnew, H. W. Sleep and waking in a time-free environment. Aerospace Medicine, 1974, 45, 617–622.
Wever, R. Über die Beeinflussung der circadianen Periodik des Menschen durch schwache elektromagnetische Felder. Zeitschrift für vergleichende Physiologie, 1967, 56, 111–128.
Wever, R. Autonome circadiane Periodik des Menschen unter dem Einfluss verschiedener Beleuchtungs-Bedingungen. Pflügers Archiv, 1969, 306, 71–91.
Wever, R. Zur Zeitgeber-Stärke eines Licht-Dunkel-Wechsels für die circadiane Periodik des Menschen. Pflügers Archiv, 1970, 321, 133–142.
Wever, R. Influence of electric fields on some parameters of circadian rhythms in man. In M. Menaker (Ed.), Biochronometry. Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Sciences, 1971, pp. 117–133.
Wever, R. Der Einfluss des Lichtes auf die circadiane Periodik des Menschen. I. Teil. Einfluss auf die autonome Periodik. Zeitschrift für Physikalische Medizin, 1973, 3, 121–134.
Wever, R. The influence of self-controlled changes in ambient temperature on autonomous circadian rhythms in man. Pflügers Archiv, 1974, 352, 257–266.
Wever, R. The circadian multi-oscillator system of man. International Journal of Chronobiology, 1975, 3, 19–55.
Wever, R. The Circadian System of Man. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer Verlag, 1979a.
Wever, R. Influence of physical work load on freerunning circadian rhythms in man. Pflügers Archiv, 1979b, 381, 119–126.
Wever, R. Schlaf und circadiane Rhythmik. In G. Harrer and V. Leutner (Eds.), Schlaf und Pharmakon. Stuttgart-New York: F. K. Schattauer Verlag, 1979c, pp. 29–62.
Wever, R. Fractional desynchronization as a method for evaluating functional interdependencies. Proceedings of the XIV International Conference of the International Society of Chronobiology. Hannover (1979), 1980a.
Wever, R. On varying work-sleep schedules: The biological rhythm perspective. Symposium on “Variations in Work-Sleep Schedules: Effects on Health and Performance,” San Diego, Calif. (1979), 1980b.
Wever, R. Phase shifts of human circadian rhythms due to shifts of artificial Zeitgebers. Chronobiologia, 1980c.
Colquhoun, P., Folkhard, S., Knauth, P., and Rutenfranz, J. (Eds.). Experimental Studies of Shiftwork. Forschungsberichte des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen, Nr. 2513. Opladen, Westdeutscher Verlag, 1975.
Conroy, R. T. W. L., and Mills, J. N. Human Circadian Rhythms. London: J. & A. Churchill, 1970.
Czeisler, C. A. Human circadian physiology: Internal organization of temperature, sleep-wake, and neuroendocrine rhythms monotored in an environment free of time cues. Ph.D. thesis, Stanford University, 1978.
Hildebrandt, G. Biologische Rhythmen und Arbeit. Wien-New York: Springer-Verlag, 1976.
McGovern, J. P., Smolensky, M. H., and Reinberg, A. (Eds.). Chronobiology in Allergy and Immunology. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C. Thomas, 1977.
Richter, C. P. Biological Clocks in Medicine and Psychiatry. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C. Thomas, 1965.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1981 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Aschoff, J., Wever, R. (1981). The Circadian System of Man. In: Aschoff, J. (eds) Biological Rhythms. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-6552-9_17
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-6552-9_17
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-6554-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-6552-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive