Automated analysis of circadian rhythms when data are collected at intervals

The subject of consideration is circadian rhythmicity studied on the grounds of data collected at intervals. Such are the cases of food and water intake, urine and electrolytes excretion and so on. The problem for determining the parameters of the circadian rhythmicity and their statistic estimation by dispersion analysis is discussed in details. The proposed method allows to calculate the parameters of the circadian rhythmicity for both the individual members and the whole group (mesor, amplitude, phase) and also the parameters of the population through the partial dispersion. A programme for a computer is developed on the grounds of the adduced mathematical apparatus.