A study by Waterhouse et al. (2012) provides a clear example of the body's circadian temperature rhythm, illustrated by a line graph. The data shows that over a 24-hour cycle, body temperature is lowest during the early morning hours of sleep. It drops from approximately 98.8°F at midnight to a low of about 97.6°F around 4:00 A.M. The temperature then begins to rise, returning to its initial level by 8:00 A.M. and continuing to fluctuate at a higher level throughout the waking hours before declining again with the onset of the next sleep period.

Circadian Fluctuation of Body Temperature (Waterhouse et al., 2012)

Many physiological processes follow a 24-hour circadian rhythm. Notable examples include the sleep-wake cycle and daily variations in body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar.

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A circadian rhythm is a type of biological rhythm characterized by a cycle that lasts approximately 24 hours.

Circadian Rhythm

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus regulates circadian rhythms. Light activates intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, causing the release of glutamate onto SCN neurons. This eventually leads to the transcription of the circadian regulating genes Per1 and Per2. The SCN is referred to as the "circadian pacemaker" because it oscillates in a circadian fashion.

Suprachiasmatic nucleus in circadian rhythms

An individual's level of alertness is correlated with their cyclical body temperature changes. Typically, periods of higher body temperature are associated with greater alertness, whereas lower body temperatures are linked to sleepiness.

Correlation Between Body Temperature and Alertness

Examples of Circadian Rhythms

States of consciousness change across the day and across the lifespan, and biological rhythms are important contributors to those changes. Circadian rhythms are a specific biological rhythm involved in these shifts, and they are generated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN).

Role of Circadian Rhythms in Consciousness

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), a structure within the hypothalamus, functions as the brain's primary biological clock. It receives direct input about light levels from the retina, which allows it to synchronize the body's internal rhythms with the external day-night cycle. The SCN then orchestrates these rhythms by sending signals to other parts of the brain, including the pineal gland, to regulate physiological and behavioral outputs.

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN) as the Brain's Biological Clock

Sleep regulation refers to the brain's control over the timing and duration of sleep and wakefulness. This process is governed by the interaction of two primary systems: the circadian rhythm, which aligns sleep with the 24-hour environmental cycle, and homeostatic regulation, which builds sleep pressure based on the length of prior wakefulness.

Sleep Regulation

Based on your understanding of 24-hour biological cycles, explain the most likely reason for the office worker's symptoms of fatigue, sleep disruption, and altered appetite.

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