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The basic rest–activity cycle (BRAC) is a physiological arousal mechanism in humans proposed by Nathaniel Kleitman, [1] hypothesized to occur during both sleep and wakefulness. Empirically, it is an ultradian rhythm of approximately 90 minutes (80–120 minutes [ 2 ] ) characterized by different levels of excitement and rest.
The day-night cycle is one consideration for planetary habitability or the possibility of extraterrestrial life on distant exoplanets. [38] In general, shorter nights result in a higher equilibrium temperature for the planet. [39] On an Earth-like planet, longer day-night cycles may increase habitability up to a point. [40]
[6] [4] A shift in the circadian phase response curve creates a connection between the amount of light in a day (day length) and depressive symptoms in this disorder. [6] [4] Light seems to have therapeutic antidepressant effects when an organism is exposed to it at appropriate times during the circadian rhythm, regulating the sleep-wake cycle ...
A circadian rhythm (/ s ər ˈ k eɪ d i ə n /), or circadian cycle, is a natural oscillation that repeats roughly every 24 hours.Circadian rhythms can refer to any process that originates within an organism (i.e., endogenous) and responds to the environment (is entrained by the environment).
The activity/rest cycle (sleep) in animals is one of the circadian rhythms that normally are entrained by environmental cues. In mammals, such endogenous rhythms are generated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the anterior hypothalamus. Entrainment is accomplished by altering the concentration of clock components through altered gene ...
[87] [88] Children who sleep through the night and have few night waking episodes have higher cognitive attainments and easier temperaments than other children. [88] [89] [90] Sleep also influences language development. To test this, researchers taught infants a faux language and observed their recollection of the rules for that language. [91]
Sample hypnogram showing one sleep cycle (the first of the night) from NREM through REM. The sleep cycle is an oscillation between the slow-wave and REM (paradoxical) phases of sleep. It is sometimes called the ultradian sleep cycle, sleep–dream cycle, or REM-NREM cycle, to distinguish it from the circadian alternation between sleep and ...
In schedules involving night shifts and fragmentation of duty periods through the entire day, a sort of polyphasic sleeping schedule was studied. Subjects were to perform two hours of activity followed by four hours of rest (sleep allowed), this was repeated four times throughout the 24-hour day.