Cited by 413Circadian rhythm and melatoninSleep and Work-Related FatigueImpact of Light on Environment and Health

Human Responses to the Geophysical Daily, Annual and Lunar Cycles

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Foster, Russell G., Roenneberg, Till·2008·Current Biology

Abstract

Collectively the daily, seasonal, lunar and tidal geophysical cycles regulate much of the temporal biology of life on Earth. The increasing isolation of human societies from these geophysical cycles, as a result of improved living conditions, high-quality nutrition and 24/7 working practices, have led many to believe that human biology functions independently of them. Yet recent studies have highlighted the dominant role that our circadian clock plays in the organisation of 24 hour patterns of behaviour and physiology. Preferred wake and sleep times are to a large extent driven by an endogenous temporal program that uses sunlight as an entraining cue. The alarm clock can drive human activity rhythms but has little direct effect on our endogenous 24 hour physiology. In many situations, our biology and our society appear to be in serious opposition, and the damaging consequences to our health under these circumstances are increasingly recognised. The seasons dominate the lives of non-equatorial species, and until recently, they also had a marked influence on much of human biology. Despite human isolation from seasonal changes in temperature, food and photoperiod in the industrialised nations, the seasons still appear to have a small, but significant, impact upon when individuals are born and many aspects of health. The seasonal changes that modulate our biology, and how these factors might interact with the social and metabolic status of the individual to drive seasonal effects…

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.cub.2008.07.003

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Authors
Foster, R. G., & Roenneberg, T.
Affiliations
Institut für Medizinische Psychologie (DE)
Corresponding author
Roenneberg, Till
Venue
Current Biology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2008-09
Volume
18
Issue
17
Pages
R784-R794
ISSN
0960-9822 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2147883116
Cited by
410
References
115
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 36 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 42 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 26 · 2012: 20
FWCI
1.30
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Current Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust
  • European Commission
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Impact of Light on Environment and Health
Keywords
circadian rhythm, seasonal rhythms, lunar cycle, tidal cycles, chronobiology, sleep timing, wakefulness, photoperiod
MeSH terms
Biological Clocks, Birth Rate, Circadian Rhythm, Death, Female, Humans, Human Activities, Male, Periodicity, Seasons, Sexual Behavior, Sleep, Moon, Photoperiod

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