The Circadian Clock

 We have an internal biological clock. This clock will run whether subjects are in a cave, in a mine, in a time isolation unit, or whatever. It is not a 24-hour clock; it takes a bit longer. 

However, we reset it every day. What makes it reset? The answer is simply that we live in a world which is 24 hours in nature; in which the world revolves around the Sun on a 24-hour basis; a world in which social events have been organized to match the 24-hour day and, in particular, the period of light. In short, man has a biological clock, which we term a circadian clock. This clock approximates the 24-hour day, running just a bit longer, and is adjusted daily by the routine features of life and our environment. 

The circadian clock is important. Man, for a variety of reasons, has evolved as a diurnal animal. We are not naturally night time animals. Our cycles affecting such matters as alertness tend to peak during the day. Therefore, common sense and chronobiological theory would tell us that our work would be best when our work/rest cycles and our biological clock are in perfect synchrony. 

There is a theory that holds that most of our behavior is determined by our chronobiology. Variables such as the social and work environment and one's health and well being simply moderate behavior. I would argue that this is somewhat misleading. In fact, social and environmental factors, as well as work schedule factors, are very important determinants of behavior.

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