Circadian Rythms

[Larry Barrieau]

I know that circadian rythms are supposed to be some sort of internal clock but is there a paranormal basis to the idea or have the paranormal folks just latched on to it for their benifit?

I couldn't find much of an opposing view. Anyone have any ideas? Melatonin and retinal arteries were mentioned in a few places but some of what I read sounded iffy.

Thanks Larry

[bug_girl]

well, there is plenty of evidence for this in non-human animals. And some limited evidence in humans. Basically, if you take an animal and place it in an environment of sensory deprivation, (no light, constant temp, etc.) feeding, sleep, and singing (birds and crickets, anyway:) ) patterns continue, but will degrade over time.
Is that what you are thinking of?
Can you be more specific with your question?

[Larry Barrieau]

Thanks Bug.

I really just want to know if anyone has heard anything about human circadian rythms (the word rythm looks more and more strange every time I write it.) Is there anything questionable in the woo woo sense about it?

I don't have a specific question. I have a friend who is writing a poem and wishes to incorporate the term in the poem. I have steered him clear of some silly notions in the past and I just don't know much about this subject.

(May I derail my own thread for a second? Bug, which field guide to insects would you recommend? I'm talking basics like Audubon or Peterson's, or....? Thanks

[Jeff Corey]

Circadian rhythms do exist in humans. In one early study by Kleitman (1963) two people spent over two weeks in a remote part of Mammoth Caves with no outside stimulation. They woke up and fell asleep about the same time every day. A later study showed people drifted into a wake-sleep cycle of about 25 hours.

In no way should this suggest that humans evolved on a planet with a 25 hour day and were then transported here by the Volgons.
(Source, any introductory psych text)

[Larry Barrieau]

Thanks Jeff.

[BillHoyt]

Originally posted by Jeff Corey
In no way should this suggest that humans evolved on a planet with a 25 hour day and were then transported here by the Volgons.
(Source, any introductory psych text)
Huh? I've got several Intro to Psych texts here. I can't find any mention of Volgons in either the indexes or the tables of contents.

[Bikewer]

vaguely related to circadian rythyms is the much-more-woo-woo idea of "biorythyms".

This plots out cycles for three different bodily cycles and encourages you to plot the intersections (good places) for doing important things, and avoiding the places where all three cycles are farthest apart (bad places) when undertaking projects.

Quite the rage some years ago, it seems to have fallen off the public radar.

[Jeff Corey]

That biorhythm dreck was plotted over days and clearly fell into the realm of boguscience., while circa dies (around a day) or circadian is, literally, around one day. It's clearly hard wired into us and other animals.
The Volgons removed all references to their abduc

[aries]

Hello :)

After reading this thread I finally understood what it was about.

I would just like to mention than in a recent contolled (and doubleblind?) study done by Danish (people from Denmark, Europe) scientists people who worked nights (i.e. cut off from daylight) were significantly more exposed (or vulnerable) in (or to) getting different forms og cancer.

The study I think was reported about in Danish Newspapers a while back so I can't find the articles relating to the study in a
jiffy (or hurry).

[Also, the articles would be in Danish, which would do no good; you can't read them, since they are in Danish :D ].

But this suggest to me that there is something about this circadian thing. I think I remember one of the scientists mentioning melatonin being decreaed in people who work
nights. [But this is from memory, so I could have qouted him wrong or not precisely enough ;) ].

Apparantly a way for humans to increase melatonin (levels) in our brains is get daylight. (or sunlight more precisely).

Again, this is from memory, so I may not be qouting the scientist's
statements correctly nor extensively or precisely enough.

But this suggest (to me) that there is something about this
circadian thing. [If I have understood correctly what it is, from the thread ;) ].

aries

[Bikewer]

It's pretty well known in industries that work 24/7, like mine, that accidents, mistakes, and screw-ups increase dramatically in the "wee hours" of the morning, when most folks' bodies are telling them they should be asleep.

I've worked midnights on and off for many years, and never seem to adapt well, I always get drowsy about 3am or so.

[Jeff Corey]

Another related phenomenon is jet lag, which screws up your circadian rhythm when you cross time zones, especially travelling west to east.