Spending time with circadian rhythms
By Alexander Michels, PhD August 11, 2014
Research at the Linus Pauling Institute has found that lipoic acid, a substance found in many plants and animals and also made in the body, modulates circadian rhythms in laboratory rodents. We realize that circadian rhythms aren’t something you hear about every day, so here is a primer on circadian rhythms and their importance.
The concept of biological clocks
We all know that human behavior is influenced by clocks. We consult alarm clocks, computer clocks, and phone clocks to set up a schedule of daily activities that need to happen at particular times. Often we establish daily timed patterns of activities, get accustomed to those patterns, and notice when changes disrupt our routine.
In a very similar way, our bodies have internal clocks to time certain physiological events. We are not conscious of many of these changes, such as alterations in blood flow, body temperature, or hormone production. But we do feel some of the results, for example, being tired or hungry at particular times of the day.
By Alexander Michels, PhD August 11, 2014
Research at the Linus Pauling Institute has found that lipoic acid, a substance found in many plants and animals and also made in the body, modulates circadian rhythms in laboratory rodents. We realize that circadian rhythms aren’t something you hear about every day, so here is a primer on circadian rhythms and their importance.
The concept of biological clocks
We all know that human behavior is influenced by clocks. We consult alarm clocks, computer clocks, and phone clocks to set up a schedule of daily activities that need to happen at particular times. Often we establish daily timed patterns of activities, get accustomed to those patterns, and notice when changes disrupt our routine.
In a very similar way, our bodies have internal clocks to time certain physiological events. We are not conscious of many of these changes, such as alterations in blood flow, body temperature, or hormone production. But we do feel some of the results, for example, being tired or hungry at particular times of the day.
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