The science or study of temporal factors in life stages and disorders, such as the sleep-wake cycle and biological clocks and rhythms.
The study of processes that repeat themselves at regular intervals under control of an internal timing mechanism within the patient. The best known of these is the circadian rhythm, with periods matching the solar 24-nour day. Some aspects of therapy involve treatment given in context of temporal changes in cell and tissue receptivity—some organs and cells respond to treatment better at particular times of the day. Therapy can also involve manipulations of the internal clock itself, such as by resetting its phase. Most commonly, this is done by appropriately timed exposure to light, altering producing of the hormone melatonin.
The branch of biology dealing with circadian biological rhythms (rhythms in a cycle of about a day, about 24 hours). For example shifting work hours, which require an individual to change his pattern of sleep and wakefulness, create serious health problems for many individuals; studies have shown increases in errors in performance, and in accidents, during the periods of the circadian rhythm when neural functions are at their lowest ebb-between 2 am and 7 am, and between 2 pm and 5 pm, for individuals “working the day shift.”
The study of the effects of time on biochemistry, the release of hormones, sleeping and waking cycles, and related aspects of plant and animal life.