Circadian Physiology

By Roberto Refinetti

Long before Apollo 11 blasted off for the moon, astronauts Neil Armstrong, "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins simulated actual space conditions to prepare their bodies for the long voyage to earth's only natural satellite. And before some U.S. professional athletes compete on another continent, they alter their eating and sleeping patterns to adapt themselves for the shift in time zones. Practices such as these are all related to the regulation of the human body's biological rhythms, which are controlled by the 'body clock'. Circadian Physiology highlights the basic processes and latest research findings in circadian biology, and describes how this knowledge applies to the prevention of jet lag and the malaise associated with shift work, the treatment of sleep disorders and depression, the timing for effective administration of medicines, and the planning of astronaut schedules for space exploration. Targeted at life scientists who are not specialists in biological rhythms, the book is also accessible to general readers who have an interest in scientific issues and their applicability to health and business problems. To provide the in-depth understanding of circadian phenomena required for the analysis of actual research data, the author has included software for data analysis and simulation that will allow readers to put into practice the formal knowledge acquired through the disciplinary chapters. With its accessible, up-to-date review of scientific and medical advances, Circadian Physiology is a valuable addition to the growing field of circadian biology.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0849322995
• ISBN13: 9780849322990
• Release Date: December 1999
• Publisher: CRC Press
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 0.8" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

A Note from the Author

Of course you would expect the author of the book to be positive about it. However, the only other posted review seems to be a mistaken entry. It refers to the first edition of the book (6 years older and 3 times smaller than the second edition) and gives it a low rating without any explanation. So, here are some helpful clarifications. If you are a graduate student or a scientist, you should buy the second edition, not only because it is up-to-date but also because it is much more detailed than the first edition. If you are a general reader, you may find the first edition more palatable (and you won't even notice that some scientific details have changed in the intervening 6 years). Both editions provide an overview of research on circadian rhythms and its applications. The great advantage of this book over other books on circadian rhythms is that it is a single-author book instead of an edited compilation of essays by multiple authors.