Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2025
06:53
Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures
Published on: November 11, 2016
8.4K
Endogenous circadian rhythms in mood and well-being
Frank A J L Scheer1, Sarah L Chellappa2
1Medical Chronobiology Program, Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Departments of Medicine and Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Sleep Health
|August 30, 2023
Summary
The body's internal clock influences mood and well-being, with higher anxiety and depression-like symptoms observed in the morning. This research highlights the impact of circadian rhythms on mental health.
Area of Science:
- Chronobiology
- Psychiatry
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- The endogenous circadian timing system regulates numerous physiological processes.
- Disruptions in circadian rhythms are linked to various mood and anxiety disorders.
- Understanding the daily fluctuations in mood and well-being is crucial for mental health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether the endogenous circadian timing system modulates mood vulnerability and well-being in healthy adults.
- To identify specific circadian phases associated with heightened negative mood and reduced well-being.
Main Methods:
- Nineteen healthy participants underwent a 32-hour Constant Routine protocol.
- Hourly assessments of anxiety-like mood, depression-like mood, and well-being were conducted.
- This controlled protocol aimed to isolate endogenous circadian rhythmicity.
Main Results:
- Significant circadian rhythms were detected in anxiety-like mood, depression-like mood, and well-being (p < .001).
- Increased anxiety and depression-like mood were observed around 8-9 a.m. (circadian phase 60°-75°).
- Greater mental fatigue and reduced physical comfort occurred around 6-8 a.m. (circadian phase 30°-60°).
Conclusions:
- Endogenous circadian rhythms significantly influence anxiety-like mood, depression-like mood, and well-being in young adults.
- These findings suggest a potential role for circadian timing in mood regulation.
- Future research may lead to circadian-based interventions for mood and anxiety disorders.
Related Concept Videos
02:19Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation
4.1K
The biological clock is involved in many aspects of regulating complex physiology in all animals. It was in 1935 when German zoologists, Hans Kalmus and Erwin Bünning, discovered the existence of circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the internal molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock remained a mystery until 1984, when Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young discovered the expression of the Per gene oscillating over a 24-hour cycle. In subsequent...
4.1K
01:15Chronopharmacokinetics: Circadian Rhythms and Influence on Drug Response
87
Circadian rhythms are cyclic changes that are crucial in plasma drug concentrations. Various standard circadian parameters, including core body temperature, heart rate, and other cardiovascular factors, directly impact disease states and the therapeutic response to drug therapy.
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
87
02:45Biological Clocks and Seasonal Responses
34.7K
The circadian—or biological—clock is an intrinsic, timekeeping, molecular mechanism that allows plants to coordinate physiological activities over 24-hour cycles called circadian rhythms. Photoperiodism is a collective term for the biological responses of plants to variations in the relative lengths of dark and light periods. The period of light-exposure is called the photoperiod.
34.7K
01:11Understanding Sleep
407
Sleep, an essential biological state, involves significant reductions in physical activity, sensory awareness, and interaction with the environment. This complex physiological process is primarily regulated by specific brain regions, notably the hypothalamus and pons, which govern the sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm.
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
407
01:19Management of Insomnia
278
The sleep cycle, an integral part of human health, consists of several stages with distinct characteristics and functions. It begins with a transition from wakefulness to sleep, known as the light sleep phase, followed by the restorative deep sleep phase, essential for physical recovery and growth. The cycle concludes with the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, characterized by high brain activity and vivid dreaming. Insomnia, a prevalent sleep disorder, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying...
278
01:02The Pineal Gland
2.0K
The pineal gland, a diminutive endocrine structure named for its pinecone-shaped appearance, is situated atop the third ventricle within the diencephalon region of the forebrain. This gland, composed of secretory cells known as pinealocytes arranged in compact cords and clusters around dense particles of calcium salts, plays a pivotal role in hormonal regulation.
The primary secretion of the pineal gland is the hormone melatonin, derived from serotonin. The concentration of melatonin in the...
The primary secretion of the pineal gland is the hormone melatonin, derived from serotonin. The concentration of melatonin in the...
2.0K