CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS: A MODEL FOR THE INTERPRETATION OF MULTIMODAL CIRCADIAN SPECTRA

A nonlinear circadian model is postulated as the underlying process in the generation of biological data containing several significant non-24-hour rhythms. The model (a) attributes observed multimodal dispersion to the nonlinear influence of processes which modulate the circadian rhythm, but which are very slow compared to 24-hour processes, and (b) provides quantitative estimates of the period of this slow modulation, as well as the period of the basic circadian rhythm. Under this model, circadian data previously presumed to be anomalous gives a consistent derived basic rhythm of about 24 hours.