Abstract
Six normal subjects lived for two weeks on disorganized schedules in which they were in bed for four 2-h periods per day at random intervals. Meals were also served on a random schedule. Subjects varied in their ability to adapt their sleep to such schedules. One subject achieved an excellent adaptation, one very good, and two fairly good. Circadian periodicity of plasma corticosteroid levels was not greatly affected by the experiment, but became ‘noisier’ in most subjects, possibly because of irregularity of individual cortisol secretory episodes within the circadian cycle. The results do not encourage the belief that circadian adrenal periodicity depends upon the cumulative effects of regular living schedules.
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Curtis, G.C., Fogel, M.L. Circadian periodicity of plasma cortisol levels: Effect of random living schedule in man. Space Life Sciences 3, 125–134 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00927987
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00927987