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Recording and Analysis of Circadian Rhythms in Running-wheel Activity in Rodents
Published on: January 24, 2013
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Systemic neurophysiological entrainment to behaviorally relevant rhythmic stimuli.
Manuel Muñoz-Caracuel1,2, Vanesa Muñoz1, Francisco J Ruiz-Martínez1
1Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Seville, Sevilla, Spain.
Physiological Reports
|October 9, 2024
Summary
Active engagement synchronizes brain and body rhythms with external cues. This neural-autonomic alignment optimizes sensorimotor responses, suggesting a prioritized physiological phase for adaptive behavior.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Physiology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Physiological rhythms (brain, heart, respiration) are intrinsic but adapt to environmental cues.
- Understanding CNS and ANS interplay is crucial for adaptive behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how active vs. passive auditory stimulation affects CNS and ANS rhythm synchronization.
- To explore the relationship between physiological phase alignment and sensorimotor performance.
Main Methods:
- Multimodal neurophysiological recordings (CNS and ANS signals).
- Rhythmic auditory stimulation across baseline, passive, and active (discrimination task) conditions.
- Power spectral density, coherence, and phase angle analyses.
Main Results:
- Active auditory processing synchronized CNS and ANS rhythms with external stimuli, unlike passive or baseline conditions.
- Consistent alignment of physiological oscillatory phases observed across participants at stimulus/response onsets.
- Phase alignment correlated with reaction times, indicating adaptive prioritization.
Conclusions:
- Active engagement with environmental rhythms drives CNS-ANS synchronization.
- Physiological phase alignment plays a key role in optimizing sensorimotor responses.
- Suggests embodied predictive processing as a mechanism for adaptive behavior.
