Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Monitoring Cell-autonomous Circadian Clock Rhythms of Gene Expression Using Luciferase Bioluminescence Reporters
Published on: September 27, 2012
Long-interval timing is based on a self-sustaining endogenous oscillator
1Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-3013, USA. jcrystal@uga.edu
Abstract:
The mechanism of anticipating long-intervals (16-21 h) was investigated. Rats earned food by interrupting a photobeam in a food trough during 3- or 4-h meals. Intermeal intervals were 16, 21, and 24 h (offset to offset) for independent groups of rats (n=8 per group). After approximately a month of experience with the intermeal intervals, the meals were discontinued. The rate of visiting the food trough increased as a function of time before the meal. When meals were discontinued, visits continued to be periodic. The periodicity was approximately 21 h after 16- and 21-h intermeal intervals and approximately 28 h after 24-h intermeal intervals. These data suggest that long-interval timing is based on a self-sustaining, endogenous oscillator.
Related Concept Videos
Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation
Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation
Oscillations In An LC Circuit
Applications of RC Circuits
Design Example: Underdamped Parallel RLC Circuit
Starting with a fixed...
Properties of Laplace Transform-II
Time differentiation involves analyzing the rate of change of a function over time. Mathematically, it is the derivative of a function with respect to time. This concept can be likened to tracking...

