term for the brain process causing us to have 24-hour fluctuations in body temperature, hormone secretion, and other bodily activities. The most important function fosters the daily alternation of sleep and wakefulness. The biological clock is found in a pair of tiny bilateral brain areas called the suprachiasmatic nuclei.
A colloquial term referring to an inherent timing mechanism responsible for controlling various physiological and behavioral cycles. Its measurement of time facilitates the nervous system’s integration of the needs of the body with the demands of the environment. Light (especially), temperature, electric and magnetic fields, are its primary cueing stimuli. In human beings, the biological clock is believed to be controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus located within the hypothalamus. See text, Chapter 4. See also, "Electro-Magnetic Sensitivity," "limbic system" and "pineal gland."
a term implying an underlying physiological mechanism that times the overt measurable rhythm or other form of biological timekeeping; see also oscillator.
an innate mechanism in living organisms that controls the periodicity of many physiological functions
an inner mechanism that is found in
an internal clock common to many organisms
an internal mechanism maintaining biological rhythms in absence of environmental stimuli
a small piece of brain tissue that generates a rhythm controlling the day/night behaviour of an organism
an internal timekeeping mechanism capable of driving or coordinating a circadian rhythm.
any physiological factor that functions in regulating body rhythms.
the term used to describe an internal timing mechanism that exists in most living systems and is thought to be located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. It is the current explanation by which various cyclical behaviors and physiological processes are regulated and synchronized with environmental events.
a collection of cells that regulates an overt biological rhythm, such as the sleep/wake cycle, or some other aspect of biological timing, including reproductive cycles or hibernation.
a term introduced in the 1950s to refer to the internal or innate timing or time measuring mechanisms within organisms
innate physiological or behavioral rhythms, synchronized with recurrent environmental factors such as time or day.
A term applied to the brain process that regulates 24-hour fluctuations in body temperature, hormone secretion, and a host of other bodily activities. Its most important function is to foster the daily alternation of sleep and wakefulness. The biological clock is housed in a pair of tiny bilateral brain areas called the suprachiasmatic nuclei.
