Circasemidian rhythm

In chronobiology, a circasemidian rhythm is a physiological arousal cycle that peaks twice in a 24-hour day. It may also be called the semicircadian rhythm . Numerous studies have demonstrated that human circadian rhythms in many measures of performance and physiological activity have a 2-peak daily (circasemidian) pattern.^[1] The word, circasemidian, is based upon the Latin words circa ("about"), semi ("half") and dia ("day"). Thus, this is a rhythm that has two cycles per day, and some investigators have referred to it as the semicircadian rhythm. It usually serves to (1) deepen the pre-dawn nadir in body temperature and cognitive performance, (2) create a flat spot during the early afternoon in the daytime increase in body temperature and cognitive performance (the "post-lunch dip"), and (3) heighten the early-evening peak in body temperature and cognitive performance.^[2] Broughton was the first to bring this characteristic of human performance to the attention of researchers.^[3]

Evidence

No evidence exists to support the presence of a circasemidian rhythm in the rhythmic cells of the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the accepted internal timing source for the major circadian rhythms of the body. Thus, though it falls in the domain of an ultradian rhythm, the circasemidian rhythm may be the first harmonic of the circadian rhythm and not an intrinsic rhythm. However, a number of published data sets have shown a daily two-peak error pattern in industrial and transportation environments.^[4] The pattern was also obvious in many of the charts shown in the review by Rutenfranz and Colquhoun,^[5] though they did not suggest a circasemidian rhythm as a mediator for the pattern. Other investigators have reported a circasemidian rhythm in body temperature,^[6] melatonin^[7] and slow-wave sleep.^[8]

Recommendation

These behavioral and physiological observations support the need to consider a 12-hour rhythmicity in the quantification of daily variations in physiological function and some kinds of cognitive performance in fatigue modeling efforts such as the Fatigue Avoidance Scheduling Tool.

References

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   - US Congress Office of Technology Assessment. Biological Rhythms: Implications for the Worker. Washington DC, US Government Printing Office, 1991.
2. Miller, J. C. (2006). In Search of Circasemidian Rhythms. Report no. 2006-0074. Brooks City-Base TX: Air Force Research Laboratory.
3. Broughton RJ. "SCN controlled circadian arousal and the afternoon "nap zone"." Sleep Res Online 1(4):166-178, 1998,
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   - Broughton RJ. "Chronobiological aspects and models of sleep and napping". In: Dinges DF, Broughton RJ (eds.), Sleep and Alertness: Chronobiological, Behavioral and Medical Aspects of Napping. New York, Raven Press, 71-98, 1989.
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   - Harris W. "Relationships between length of time driving, time of day, and certains kinds of accidents". Pages 51-64 in Mackie RR, Miller JC, Effects of Hours of Service, Regularity of Schedules, and Cargo Loading on Truck and Bus Driver Fatigue (NTIS PB290957). Goleta CA, Human Factors Research, Inc., 1978.
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5. Rutenfranz J, Colquhoun P. "Circadian rhythms in human performance". Scand J Work Environ & Health 5:167-177, 1979.
6. Colquhoun WP, Blake MJF, Edwards RS. "Experimental studies of shift-work I: A comparison of 'rotating' and 'stabilized' 4-hours shift systems". Ergonomics 11:437-453, 1968.
   - Colquhoun WP, Paine MWPH, Fort A. "Circadian rhythm of body temperature during prolonged undersea voyages". Aviat Space Environ Med 49(5):671-678, 1978.
   - Colquhoun WP, Paine MWPH, Fort A. "Changes in the temperature rhythm of submariners following a rapidly rotating watchkeeping system for a prolonged period". Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 42:185-190, 1979.
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7. Maggioni C, Cornelissen G, Antinozzi R, Ferrario M, Grafe A, Halberg F. "A half-yearly aspect of circulating melatonin in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth retardation". Neuroendicrinology Letters 20:55-68, 1999.
8. Hayashi M, Morikawa T, Hori T. "Circasemidian 12 h cycle of slow wave sleep under constant darkness". Clin Neurophysiol 113(9):1505-16, 2002.