Zeitgeber

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Zeitgeber

Zeitgeber (pronounced: /ˈtsaɪtˌɡeɪbər/; from German, literally "time-giver") is a term used in Chronobiology to refer to any external or environmental cue that entrains or synchronizes an organism's biological rhythms to the Earth's 24-hour light/dark cycle and 12-month year.

Etymology

The term Zeitgeber comes from the German words "Zeit" meaning time, and "Geber" meaning giver, thus translating to "time-giver". It was first used in the field of Chronobiology in the 1950s.

Function

Zeitgebers help to regulate an organism's circadian rhythms, which are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a daily cycle. The most well-known Zeitgeber is daylight. Other Zeitgebers include temperature, social interactions, pharmacological manipulations, exercise, and meal times.

Related Terms

  • Circadian Rhythm: A natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours.
  • Chronobiology: A field of biology that examines periodic (cyclic) phenomena in living organisms and their adaptation to solar- and lunar-related rhythms.
  • Entrainment (chronobiology): The process of synchronizing a biological rhythm to an environmental stimulus.

See Also

External links

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