[Mutual connection between sleep-wake rhythm and other circadian rhythms].
The desynchronaization between sleep-wakefulness rhythm and other biological rhythms such as rectal temperature rhythm and melatonin rhythm is the most unique characteristics for human circadian rhythms. Based on the findings of desynchronaization, a multi-oscillator hypothesis has been advanced for the human circadian clock. Three kind of the hypotheses such as Wever, Kronauer and two-process model were introduced in this article. According to the multi-oscillator hypothesis, one clock regulates rectal temperature and melatonin rhythm and another clock regulates sleep-wake rhythm. There are a few differences between the two different kind of circadian rhythms. For example, the oscillator mechanism which regulates the rectal temperature and the melatonin rhythm are reseted directly by the bright light, but the sleep-wake rhythm is entrained by the bright light through an internal coupling to the former mechanism. And it is also recognized that the length and the structure of sleep are depended strongly on the phase of biological clock which regulates the rectal temperature rhythm.
Itoh
H
H
Department of Psychiatry, Jikei University School of Medicine.
Ushijima
S
S
D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology*
D008550:Melatonin