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Human sleep and circadian rhythms: a simple model based on two coupled oscillators

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Abstract

We propose a model of the human circadian system. The sleep-wake and body temperature rhythms are assumed to be driven by a pair of coupled nonlinear oscillators described by phase variables alone. The novel aspect of the model is that its equations may be solved analytically. Computer simulations are used to test the model against sleep-wake data pooled from 15 studies of subjects living for weeks in unscheduled, time-free environments. On these tests the model performs about as well as the existing models, although its mathematical structure is far simpler.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics, Harvard University, 02138, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Steven H. Strogatz

  2. Department of Mathematics, Boston University, 02215, Boston, MA, USA

    Steven H. Strogatz

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  1. Steven H. Strogatz
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Supported by NIGMS Grant No. 5-R01-GM-30719-03

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Strogatz, S.H. Human sleep and circadian rhythms: a simple model based on two coupled oscillators. J. Math. Biology 25, 327–347 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00276440

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00276440

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