title: An extremely simple procedure for the analysis of circadian and estrous periodicity.
abstract: A method for the analysis of circadian and estrous periodicity based on immediate visual inspection of the data is described. The method involves the calculation of two statistics, P (the period of the oscillations in the data) and h (an index of homogeneity of P). The sampling distribution of both statistics is examined and critical values for significance tests are presented. A computational algorithm for use with large data sets is also presented. The method is intended to be not a substitute for traditional methods of time series analysis but an alternative strategy to be used in cases where a rapid and simple determination of periodicity is desired.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22901.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Refinetti
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004971:Estrus / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008647:Mesocricetus; D010507:Periodicity