How Does Chronobiology Work?

Chronobiology is the study of biological rhythms. It examines the effects of time on biological events and internal biological clocks. ... These endogenous clocks are useful because they can work independently and keep time without requiring time clues from external light-dark changes (2).

How does a biological clock work?

How does our body clock know what time of day it is? The circadian biological clock is controlled by a part of the brain called the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN), a group of cells in the hypothalamus that respond to light and dark signals. When our eyes perceive light, our retinas send a signal to our SCN.

What happens if your circadian rhythm is out of whack?

Without the proper signaling from the body's internal clock, a person can struggle to fall asleep, wake up during the night, or be unable to sleep as long as they want into the morning. Their total sleep can be reduced, and a disrupted circadian rhythm can also mean shallower, fragmented, and lower-quality sleep.