New studies in chronobiology are being released and covered in the media every week. In particular, the importance of melatonin levels is discussed frequently. However, many people do not understand the basics of this hormone. Melatonin, or “the mother hormone of chronobiology,” has various effects, the main ones being helping an individual achieve healthy sleep and keeping the […]
How Does Daylight Saving Time Affect Our Circadian Rhythm?
Sleep disturbances are surprisingly common in the Western world. Many people struggle to get to sleep at a reasonable hour and then spend their days exhausted. Modern research into chronobiology, or the science of our bodies’ internal clocks, suggests that a lack of sleep can even contribute to disease. In honor of Sleep Awareness Week, […]
Find Your Chronotype From theWeP
The Worldwide Experimental Platform (theWeP) is devoted to the study of human behavior, which is still poorly understood, at least compared to human biology. It was devised by researchers at four different universities (three in Europe and one in the Philippines). Researchers have made great strides in studying human biology through the use of laboratory […]
Seasonal Affective Disorder: Sunlight and Your Circadian Rhythm
Our circadian rhythms, or internal clocks, control many vital biological processes such as sleep, cell cycles and even healing. However, new evidence suggests that circadian rhythms may also be a major player in seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder? Seasonal affective disorder is similar in symptoms to depression. In addition, sufferers […]
Photon Project Leads Study of Effects of Natural Light Exposure
Alzheimer’s. Diabetes. Parkinson’s disease. Have you ever wondered whether one factor is the cause of all these maladies? Well, it just may be circadian rhythm disruption. Researchers have found that with today’s lifestyles of working long hours inside buildings and coming home to sit in front of the television, the lack of access to natural […]