Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026
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Human Circadian Phenotyping and Diurnal Performance Testing in the Real World
Published on: April 7, 2020
9.6K
Chronotype ontogeny related to gender
L L Duarte1, L Menna-Barreto2, M A L Miguel2
1Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Santo Antônio de Jesus, BA, Brasil.
Summary
Chronotype, or the body's internal clock, shows significant age and gender differences. Women shift towards eveningness later in life, unlike men, suggesting greater circadian rhythm plasticity in males.
Area of Science:
- Chronobiology
- Human Physiology
- Sleep Science
Background:
- Chronotype reflects circadian rhythm alignment with external cues.
- Age and gender interactions in chronotype development are not well understood.
- Existing research lacks consensus on gender-specific aging patterns of circadian timing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age- and gender-related variations in human chronotype.
- To analyze the relationship between aging, gender, and morningness-eveningness preferences.
- To clarify the ontogenetic modulation of circadian rhythms concerning gender.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Brazilian version of the Horne and Östberg chronotype questionnaire.
- Collected data from a large sample of 14,650 volunteers.
- Performed statistical analysis to compare chronotype across different age groups and genders.
Main Results:
- Women exhibited a morning chronotype preference over men until age 30.
- No significant gender differences in chronotype were observed between ages 30 and 45.
- Post-45, women displayed a more evening-oriented chronotype compared to men.
- Men showed greater amplitude in chronotype changes across the lifespan.
Conclusions:
- Chronotype development is significantly influenced by the interaction of age and gender.
- Circadian timekeeping system plasticity appears greater in men, with more pronounced age-related shifts.
- Adolescent phase delay and elderly phase advance are more distinct in men than in women.
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