Amplitude of circadian oscillations entrained by 24-h light–dark cycles

The amplitude of circadian oscillations in Neurospora and Drosophila is maximized when the free-running period is smaller than 24 hours.

• In Neurospora, light induces the expression of a clock gene, affecting the entrainment of circadian rhythms.
• Complex oscillations occur in Neurospora when the amplitude of the light-dark cycle is very strong and the free-running period is close to 24 hours.
• In Drosophila, light enhances the degradation of a clock protein, influencing circadian rhythm entrainment.
• The range of entrainment for Drosophila is centered around a free-running period of 24 hours.
• Physiological relevance of these findings relates to how the free-running period of the circadian clock is set.

AI simplified