Ultradian Rhythms in Life Processes

It has been determined that electrical, endocrine and behavioural rhythms characterize both wakefulness and sleep, and pathologically disordered interruptions to these rhythms cause dynamic diseases. This text explores the evidence for the significance of ultradian rhythms.

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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 minutes) 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 co-ordination of integrated functions of tissues and organs in order to provide the 'homodynamics' of the whole organism. Electrical, endocrine and behavioural rhythms characterize both wakefulness and sleep, and pathologically disordered states give rise to dynamic diseases. This text traces a continuum from the molecular genetic, through the cellular and neuroendocrine, to the behaviour 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 consequences for our understanding of health and diseases.