Molecular insights into human daily behavior
Open accessAbstract
Human beings exhibit wide variation in their timing of daily behavior. We and others have suggested previously that such differences might arise because of alterations in the period length of the endogenous human circadian oscillator. Using dermal fibroblast cells from skin biopsies of 28 subjects of early and late chronotype (11 "larks" and 17 "owls"), we have studied the circadian period lengths of these two groups, as well as their ability to phase-shift and entrain to environmental and chemical signals. We find not only period length differences between the two classes, but also significant changes in the amplitude and phase-shifting properties of the circadian oscillator among individuals with identical "normal" period lengths. Mathematical modeling shows that these alterations could also account for the extreme behavioral phenotypes of these subjects. We conclude that human chronotype may be influenced not only by the period length of the circadian oscillator, but also by cellular components that affect its amplitude and phase. In many instances, these changes can be studied at the molecular level in primary dermal cells.
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Earlier alignment of sleep/wake with external timing cues is a consequence of a quickened pace of the circadian gene network.
“This earlier alignment of sleep/wake with external timing cues is a consequence of a quickened pace of the circadian gene network (Brown et al. 2008).”
From Archaic Introgression Shaped Human Circadian Traits (2023) · cites this paper as Brown et al. 2008
In present-day humans, behavioral morningness is correlated with a shortened period of the circadian molecular clockworks in individuals.
“In present-day humans, behavioral morningness is correlated with a shortened period of the circadian molecular clockworks in individuals.”
From Archaic Introgression Shaped Human Circadian Traits (2023) · cites this paper as Brown et al. 2008
The lower transcriptional amplitude of NR1D1 confers greater sensitivity of the present-day human clockworks to resetting stimuli, a potentially adaptive characteristic for high latitudes.
“Interestingly, the lower transcriptional amplitude of NR1D1 does confer greater sensitivity of the present-day human clockworks to resetting stimuli, a potentially adaptive characteristic for high latitudes (Brown et al. 2008).”
From Archaic Introgression Shaped Human Circadian Traits (2023) · cites this paper as Brown et al. 2008
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Archaic Introgression Shaped Human Circadian Traits
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“Interestingly, the lower transcriptional amplitude of NR1D1 does confer greater sensitivity of the present-day human clockworks to resetting stimuli, a potentially adaptive characteristic for high latitudes (Brown et al. 2008).”
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- Authors
- Brown, S. A., Kunz, D., Dumas, A., Westermark, P. O., Vanselow, K., Tilmann-Wahnschaffe, A., Herzel, H., & Kramer, A.
- Affiliations
- University of Zurich (CH)
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (DE)
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (DE)
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (PUK), Grosse Hamburger Strasse 5–11, D-10115 Berlin, Germany; and
- Venue
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- Published
- 2008-02-05
- Volume
- 105
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1602-1607
- ISSN
- 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
- 1091-6490
- PMC
- PMC2234191
- OpenAlex
- W1989742317
- Cited by
- 270
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 10.16
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Keywords
- chronotype, circadian period, circadian clock, dermal fibroblasts, phase shifting, entrainment, circadian amplitude
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Behavior, Biological Assay, Cells, Cultured, Circadian Rhythm, Female, Fibroblasts, Colforsin, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Biological, Skin, Transcription, Genetic, Trans-Activators, Genes, Reporter, CLOCK Proteins
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