The human circadian system in normal and disordered sleep.

Dec 13, 2005The Journal of clinical psychiatry

The human internal body clock in healthy and disrupted sleep

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Abstract

The human circadian system, regulated by the suprachiasmatic nuclei, establishes normal sleep and wake phases.

The suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) act as the biological clock, coordinating the body's rhythmic functions.
Light exposure is crucial for resetting the intrinsic circadian cycle, which is slightly longer than 24 hours.
Disorders in the circadian system are frequently associated with sleep abnormalities, including circadian rhythm sleep disorders.
Conditions like jet lag syndrome and shift work sleep disorder are directly linked to dysfunctions in the circadian system.
Other sleep disorders, such as insomnia, could also be related to abnormalities in the circadian system.

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The human circadian system regulates rhythmicity in the human body and establishes normal sleep and wake phases. The suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), located in the hypothalamus above the optic chiasm, make up the human pacemaker known as the circadian or biological clock, but other essential parts of the circadian system include the pineal gland, retina, and retinohypothalamic tract. The importance of light in resetting the intrinsic human circadian cycle, the intrinsic period of which is slightly longer than 24 hours, ensures that the human cycle will stay entrained to the earth's 24-hour daily cycle. Within the SCN neurons, circadian rhythmicity is generated by the regular transcription of proteins. Since the circadian system is the foundation of the sleep-wake cycle, disorders and abnormalities in sleep are often connected with disorders or abnormalities in the circadian system. Circadian rhythm sleep disorders, such as jet lag syndrome and shift work sleep disorder, are those specifically attributed to dysfunctions or insufficiencies in the circadian system. Taking into consideration the preeminence of the circadian clock in timing sleep, it is likely that other sleep disorders, such as insomnia, are also linked to circadian system abnormalities.

The human circadian system in normal and disordered sleep.

Abstract

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