title: The Neurobiology of Circadian Rhythms.
abstract: There is a growing recognition that the coordinated timing of behavioral, physiologic, and metabolic circadian rhythms is a requirement for a healthy body and mind. In mammals, the primary circadian oscillator is the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which is responsible for circadian coordination throughout the organism. Temporal homeostasis is recognized as a complex interplay between rhythmic clock gene expression in brain regions outside the SCN and in peripheral organs. Abnormalities in this intricate circadian orchestration may alter sleep patterns and contribute to the pathophysiology of affective disorders.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska, Fair Street and East Campus Loop, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA. Electronic address: patricia.sollars@unl.edu.
authors.forename: Patricia J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Sollars
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska, Fair Street and East Campus Loop, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 600 S 42nd Street, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
authors.forename: Gary E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Pickard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057906:Circadian Clocks / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D059326:Serotonergic Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Biological rhythms; Circadian oscillator; Clock; Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells; Suprachiasmatic nucleus