Ultradian Rhythms In Life Processes: AN INQUIRY INTO FUNDAMENTAL PRINC OF CHRONOBIOLOGY/PSYCHOBIOLOGY

Overview The text brings together the evidence for the fundamental significance of ultradian rhythms at all levels of organization. In lower eukaryotes short-period rhythms (30-70 min.) are coupled to an ultradian clock which serves as a central time-keeper. In metazoans, similar rhythms are necessary for inter-cell communication, and temporal coupling for the coordination of integrated functions of tissues and organs in order to provide the "homodynamics" of the whole organism. Electrical, endocrine, and behavioral rhythms characterize both wakefulness and sleep, and pathologically disordered states give rise to dynamic diseases. We can now trace a continuum from the molecular genetic, through the cellular and neuroendocrine, to the behavioral and psychosocial levels. Specialist chapters devoted to each of these topics (each with a general introductory section and some speculative discussions) are provided. Many of the results presented are recent and novel, with far-reaching conseque