Meal timing alters circadian rhythm of skin surface temperature in non-human primates

Circadian rhythms of skin surface temperature were demonstrated in a group of African green vervets. Alteration of the timing of a single daily meal of fixed caloric content resulted in a shift of the skin surface temperature acrophase in 7 of the 8 series. The timing of the individual temperature acrophases in relation to the light-dark cycle and the extent of acrophase shift in response to alteration of meal timing showed considerable variation between the individual animals studied.