Circadian effects of timed meals (and other rewards).
Mammals organize many of their activities around rhythmic events in their environments. Primary among these events is the daily light-dark cycle. However, for many animals, food availability is rhythmic or quasi-rhythmic and is therefore a potential synchronizing cue. While circadian rhythms in both behavior and physiological activity can be entrained in animals via meal-feeding schedules, the mechanism by which this occurs remains poorly understood. Similarities between the circadian effects of restricted feeding and the effects of chronic methamphetamine treatment may be indicative of a common mechanism. This article argues that reward (or the arousal that accompanies it) may be the final common pathway for such nonphotic circadian inputs.
Davidson
Alec J
AJ
Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, USA.
Tataroglu
Ozgur
O
Menaker
Michael
M
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010507:Periodicity; D051381:Rats; D012201:Reward; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology
D008694:Methamphetamine