Methods for Human Circadian Phenotyping and Diurnal Performance Testing in the Real World

Facer-Childs, Elise, Middleton, Benita, Bagshaw, Andrew P. and Skene, Debra J. (2019) Methods for Human Circadian Phenotyping and Diurnal Performance Testing in the Real World Journal of Visualized Experiments.

Text Manuscript_JoVE-60448_Facer-Childs et al._R3 no highlights.docx - Accepted version Manuscript Restricted to Repository staff only Download (95kB)

Abstract

In our continuously developing 'around the clock' society, there is a need to increase our understanding of how changes in biology, physiology and psychology influence our health and performance. Embedded within this challenge, is the increasing need to account for individual differences in sleep and circadian rhythms, as well as to explore the impact of time of day on performance in the real world. There are a number of ways to measure sleep and circadian rhythms from subjective questionnaire-based methods to objective sleep/wake monitoring, actigraphy and analysis of biological samples. This paper proposes a protocol that combines multiple techniques to categorize individuals into Early, Intermediate or Late circadian phenotype groups (ECPs/ICPs/LCPs) and recommends how to conduct diurnal performance testing in the field. Representative results show large differences in rest-activity patterns derived from actigraphy, circadian phase (dim light melatonin onset and peak time of cortisol awakening response) between circadian phenotypes. In addition, significant differences in diurnal performance rhythms between ECPs and LCPs emphasizes the need to account for circadian phenotype. In summary, despite the difficulties in controlling influencing factors, this protocol allows a real-world assessment of the impact of circadian phenotype on performance. This paper presents a simple method to assess circadian phenotype in the field and supports the need to consider time of day when designing performance studies.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions :	Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences > School of Biosciences and Medicine
Authors :	Name Email ORCID Facer-Childs, Elise Middleton, Benita B.Middleton@surrey.ac.uk Bagshaw, Andrew P. Skene, Debra J. D.Skene@surrey.ac.uk
Date :	2019
Funders :	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Wellcome Trust, Monash University
Copyright Disclaimer :	Copyright © 2019 Journal of Visualized Experiments
Uncontrolled Keywords :	Circadian rhythms; Sleep; Circadian phenotype; Individual differences; Dim light melatonin onset; Cortisol awakening response; Actigraphy; Chronotype; Performance
Related URLs :	Publisher
Depositing User :	Clive Harris
Date Deposited :	24 Sep 2019 10:59
Last Modified :	19 Dec 2019 11:41
URI:	http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/id/eprint/852769

Actions (login required)

View Item

Downloads