ntroducing biological rhythms : a primer on the temporal organization of life, with implications for health, society, reproduction and the natural environmen

Preface vii Acknowledgments ix 1 The Study of Biological Rhythms Introduction ................................................................................................... 1 A Time for Everything .................................................................................. 4 Three Rhythm Domains ................................................................................ 6 Implications of Body Clocks ....................................................................... 11 Essay 1.1: Accidents and Catastrophes ................................................... 11 Chronobiology: An Integrating Discipline .................................................. 12 Chapters in This Book ................................................................................. 14 Take-Home Message ................................................................................... 15 2 General Features of Rhythms: Terminology and Characteristics Introduction ................................................................................................. 19 Details of a Rhythm ..................................................................................... 20 Period and Frequency .............................................................................. 21 Circadian Domain.................................................................................... 21 Essay 2.1: Use of the term “Circadian” ................................................... 23 Other Domains ........................................................................................ 25 Essay 2.2: Time on Earth as We Know It ................................................ 26 Amplitude ................................................................................................ 29 Phase ........................................................................................................ 29 Genetics and Inheritance.............................................................................. 29 Period....................................................................................................... 30 Amplitude and Phase ............................................................................... 30 Primary Circadian Clocks............................................................................ 32 The Brain ................................................................................................. 33 SCN Identification ................................................................................... 34