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circadian rhythm |
Also found in: Medical, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.07 sec. |
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circadian rhythm: see rhythm, biological rhythm, biological, cyclic pattern of physiological changes or changes in activity in living organisms, most often synchronized with daily, monthly, or annual cyclical changes in the environment. ..... Click the link for more information. . circadian rhythmInherent cycle of approximately 24 hours in length that appears to control or initiate various biological processes, including sleep, wakefulness, and digestive and hormonal activity. The natural signal for the circadian pattern is the change from darkness to light. The controlling mechanism for these cyclic processes within the body is thought to be the hypothalamus. Any change in the circadian cycle (such as jet lag and other conditions associated with travel) requires a certain period for readjustment. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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| The same is true for people who travel through multiple time zones quickly; they get "jet lag" because they cannot maintain a regular sleep-wake schedule. Boivin explained that when an individual travels to a new time zone, the body's clock readjusts as an individual realigns the sleep-wake schedule to fit the new daylight schedule. |
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