Biological clock and the human brain. Biological clock of the human body according to working hours Biological clock tells me what I need

Every animal and, of course, a person has a biological clock “built-in” by nature, which determines the biorhythms (biological rhythms: daily, seasonal) of the vital activity of the entire organism.
The human biological clock is programmed genetically, and the biorhythms may differ for each individual, although the biological clock basically represents a similar biological, circadian rhythm of human physiology.

If you want to be healthy and long-lived, then you should not only lead a healthy lifestyle, but also live in step with nature itself - according to the biological clock, without disturbing the biorhythms of your body.

How the human biological clock works and how biorhythms are disrupted

The functioning of the biological clock is directly related to chemical, physical and mental, including brain biochemistry, processes in the human and animal body at the cellular level.

Human biorhythms are directly related to natural, daily, seasonal and lunar changes. For example, the circadian rhythm (Fig. above) represents the vital activity of the body in a daily format.

By observing its biological time, based on genetically programmed, repeating physiological cycles, the animal and human body itself determines when it needs to eat, when to digest food, when to sleep and empty the intestines, when to stay awake and work productively, and when to rest and replenish new energy of life. .

However, the biological clock can be reconfigured, adapting to external circumstances, for example, the biorhythm mechanism is configured to dark time days to produce “Melatonin” (a hormone that promotes healthy sleep and replenishment of energy spent during daylight hours). But in modern world You can turn on a lot of light at night, and thereby cause a malfunction in the bioclock and break natural biological rhythms.

This is why it is very harmful to work (or have fun) at night, especially if it is not standardized in any way (there is no permanent schedule, as, for example, with a rotating schedule), because this leads to disruption of the body’s biorhythm and a person can become ill, both physically and mentally (including in the long term - in the near or distant future).

The opposite hormone “Serotonin” (the hormone of joy, vigor and performance), on the contrary, is produced during daylight hours, especially in bright sunlight.
For example, you can easily notice the work of your biological clock (the production of Melatonin or Serotonin), or rather its failure, if the morning is cloudy (you want to sleep and do nothing - Melatonin), or if the morning is sunny - a joyful mood, vigor and efficiency appear ( Serotonin).

For example, if you have difficulty getting up for an alarm clock at 6 am, forcing your body, then you can calculate the time so (assuming you need 7-8 hours of sleep) to go to bed at 22-23 o'clock and get up at 6. Give yourself installation, set yourself up. At first it may be difficult to fall asleep earlier than you are used to, but after several repetitions, your biorhythms will be corrected, and you will freely get up at 6-00 according to your internal, biological clock, and not according to your alarm clock... (you can use

If you are over thirty, then you have probably been told more than once about the biological clock, which by its ticking reduces the chances of pregnancy and childbirth - and these reminders, which become more and more indelicate over time, include everyone around you, from close relatives and colleagues to doctors, who intimidate with the 35-year threshold, beyond which new life impossible. Melanie Berline, a producer and essayist from New York, reflects on this social pressure.

“Get that thing out of you now!” my boyfriend’s sister exclaimed when I told her about intrauterine device. And she asked when I would “finally” want to have a child. I understand, of course, that she said this out of respect for our relationship with her brother and a sincere desire for us to experience joy family life. So I received another reminder that my biological clock is ticking. Literally. Each one. Give me a sec.

I am 34 years old, and I am approaching that sad age threshold at which generally accepted pregnancy statistics hit. Fear-peddling professionals, fertility specialists, advertisers, and respected family members like to point out that at 35, a woman's eggs suddenly become less viable. And if you are lucky enough to become pregnant at this advanced age, the risk of miscarriage or having a child with congenital pathologies suddenly jumps to the skies.

Women in their thirties are constantly bombarded with horror stories about infertility - story after story about what happened to friends of friends, those who waited too long before being cursed by Mother Nature. We are shamed for the fact that our eggs will soon turn into nothing, and are persuaded to decide to freeze them - to carry out a procedure that on average costs an insane $10 thousand - “just in case.”

I know this because I'm 34 years old and I can't escape this disgusting feeling that if I don't get pregnant in the next year, I'll miss this train forever. Before this, I found myself looking at prenatal vitamins at the pharmacy and seriously considering buying them, despite the fact that the IUD was still inside me. Over the past few months, I've been googling "How fast do women's eggs really deplete?" more times than I'd like to admit? And in the process of testing my reproductive health In online fertility calculators, I reassured myself that I hit adolescence four years later than other girls, so I still had plenty of first-class gametes.

And now my 35th birthday is on the horizon, poisoning me with missed opportunities and a lifetime of regrets if I don't spread my legs and invite some cum inside me. However, more and more studies say that popular beliefs about women's fertility are complete nonsense. In the book “A Pregnancy Guide for Impatient Women,” Prof. State University San Diego Jean Twenge states: The popular belief that one in three women over 35 cannot get pregnant after a year of trying is based on an analysis of French metrics from 1670 to 1830. Fortunately, medicine has made giant leaps since the 18th century! In fact, according to calculations by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, today about 80% of women aged 35-39 become pregnant naturally, their fertility index is only slightly inferior to women 27-34 years old. In a study published in 2014 by Boston University School of Medicine, researchers even found that women who gave birth to their last child at age 33 or later lived longer than those who gave birth at age 27. Of course, “after this does not mean as a result of this,” but the data is remarkable, you will agree.

I'm tired of the pregnancy stories we feed women. We warn young girls that if they delay in bearing children, they will certainly face dire consequences. We tell them that their bodies are designed to bear children, and the sooner the better. We say there's "never a right time" to have a baby - as if women have to give up everything and get pregnant, no matter how ready they really are, financially, emotionally, etc.

And if " right time“will never come, is it too crazy to assume that a woman may not give up life for the sake of motherhood? What value could there be in pushing a woman to make such a huge, life-changing decision as motherhood? On the other hand, the negative aspects of forcing someone into a role for which they are not psychologically prepared are quite obvious, especially considering possible risk for life while carrying a child for nine long months. Will anything good come from unwanted motherhood? Maybe. But I would argue that there is a lot of bad stuff too. The truth is that if we all agreed to stop the pressure and not put pressure on women of any age, the world would be a much better place.

What you need to know about the human biological clock?

Hello! Today we, the Valitov brothers, greeting our visitors to our blog, will tell you on this page about the human biological clock.

Since they were originally laid down in us by nature itself even before our birth. These watches determine the algorithm of behavior, lifestyle and general condition person.

Their course depends on the time of year, external natural factors, the change of day or night, directly determining people’s ability to survive in this world.

What is a biological clock? What life rhythms subordinate the strict patterns of the schedule of these hours, and how do they force the human body to subconsciously obey them every day?

What organs in our body are responsible for regulating these cyclical processes, and how correctly people need to set their biological clocks in order to live in harmony with the world around them. You can find out about this by reading our article.

Stay with us!

Features of the internal clock

The biological clock is a special internal system biorhythms human body.

It determines its life activity by directly linking external natural factors with the processes:

Food;
Growth;
Reproduction;
Recuperation;
Active physical or mental activity.

Typically, this system is not associated with the traditional earthly day, but operates on a cyclical principle with various time repetitions from seconds, months or seasons to years.

Their combination determines the rhythm of all human life processes, determining the normal functioning of all their systems with the work of internal organs.

Here, each organism maintains its own individual time schedule, which can be influenced by both natural factors such as exposure to the sun, moon, wind, or rain, and social factors, due to the daily routine.

Moreover, depending on the daily chronotype, all people are divided into:

“Larks” with the main working capacity in the morning or first half of the day.
“Owls”, which are characterized by an evening peak of wakefulness or physical activity.
"Pigeons" with mixed daytime activity.

The work of our biorhythms is regulated by the brain, which produces certain hormones for this purpose, such as:

Melatonin, which provides people with “nighttime” unconscious life support;
Creatine, responsible for mental and physical performance;
Serotonin, which increases people's feelings of joy, happiness, and psycho-emotional positive component.

How does the internal clock work?

As numerous studies of the human body show, all processes occurring in it are determined by the state of rhythmicity of daily changes in its biological structure.

These rhythms obey the strict laws of nature, determining the daily routine of people and their health. Therefore, we will consider the schedule and characteristics of their main stages.

From 22 to 5 am

Initially, in this period of the biological schedule, the human body is in a state of physical exhaustion, gradually recovering for the next day until 5 am.

Wherein:

The body rests, allowing the liver to calmly process everything useful material, removing poisons or toxins from the body;
Functionality is restored at the cellular level.
The brain sums up the day, rejecting unnecessary things, allowing people to sleep fully, going through all the cyclical phases of sleep;
During the peak period of this stage, people’s blood pressure drops, their heart rate and pulse decrease, their breathing and blood circulation slow down.

It is here that we will pause our narrative by inserting a small remark for people engaged in main work at night.

Are you a long-distance driver? Clearly, this happens very often. Therefore, you, like no one else, should be very careful on the highway from midnight to three o'clock.

Because at this time, no matter how much you want, your body becomes sluggish due to the night hormone melatonin, the body becomes sensitive to cold, and the brain slows down the speed of reaction to optical stimuli.

So take our advice! During this peak time, try to park your car in the nearest parking lot, stop and rest a little. This will be beneficial and will protect you from emergency situation on the road.

From 5 to 8

This time from the biological schedule is characterized by a period of awakening.

After alternating phases of lung and deep sleep, a person begins to:

Sharpen your hearing;
Increased heart rate and blood pressure;
Increase immune defense.

By 8 am, his body was completely rested, having regained its strength.

From 9 to 14

This period in the biological schedule is due to an increase in performance and the level of mental activity.

Here the heart works rhythmically, the pain sensitivity threshold decreases, and physical or mental load it is practically not felt.

Until 12 noon is the time of greatest efficiency. After it, people experience a feeling of fatigue and the first decline in activity, which is necessary for rest, followed by a lunch break from 13 to 14.

From 14 to 22

The afternoon schedule of biological time cycles is characterized by some instability with peaks and troughs of activity. First, after lunch, a person’s performance increases. Here he again enters his work uniform.

The time before 17 is the most productive for athletes with active physical activities in the fresh air.

By 6 p.m., people’s mental alertness gradually begins to decline. By 19, cerebral blood flow decreases, so a person can feel headache due to a slight decrease in biorhythm activity.

At the same time, the time from 20 to 21 is very productive for actors and students, when they memorize texts very well.

And drivers at this time acquire great shape and speed of reaction to external stimuli.

By 22 o'clock the activities of our biological rhythms decreases, body temperature drops, the body prepares for sleep.

How the biological clock is adjusted

The proper functioning of the biological clock is affected not only by the age of people, but also by sharp fluctuations in weather conditions, such as:

Magnetic storms;
Atmospheric pressure surges;
Air humidity;
Wind or temperature.

At the same time, older people tolerate these factors much harder. Therefore, to reduce the influence of these external loads, they need to be dealt with:

Physical therapy;
Swimming;
Hardening your body;
Organization proper nutrition and night rest routine.

In addition, it is advisable for these people to include teas from “daytime” chronobiotics, such as green tea, eleutherococcus or coffee tree, in their morning diet. As “night” chronobiotics, it is advisable to use decoctions of:

Oregano;
Mint;
Hops;
Valerian.

For anyone who wants to know more about the human biological clock, we can make it easier for them to find material on this topic by offering a subscription to our updates.

Here, each of you will be able to constantly keep abreast of new products in order to discuss them in your comments, leaving reviews on our publications or sharing your practical advice with friends from social networks.

Good luck to everyone, goodbye and new meetings!

Why after overuse alcohol helps the body fight better in the morning than in the evening, and sex in the morning is always better. Our female biological clock is responsible for this. Whether we like it or not, guided by the biological clock, our female body is governed by its own rules. This is how we act contrary to nature, what we lose, what we gain. We will learn a little about our internal biological clock, which works sensitively in women, and we will be able to adjust our plans.

2.00-3.00 - low body temperature, drowsiness. Around 2 am high level prolactin.

5.00-6.00 - testosterone levels begin to increase. That's why it's morning perfect time for sex. Adrenaline begins to rise, the body prepares for action. The skin is sensitive worst time for painful cosmetic procedures.

7.00-9.00 - metabolism works on maximum speed and most hormone levels are at their highest. Highest concentration bad cholesterol in blood. Whatever you eat during this time will be converted into energy rather than fat. Therefore, tomorrow should be rich and eventful. Remember that glucose is the brain's fuel. The muscles and joints are not yet flexible, the body is coming to its senses. At this time the risk increases heart attack. Platelet count is high. If you cut yourself, there will be less blood than in the evening.

10.00-12.00 - body temperature and concentration reaches a maximum. We think quickly and react quickly to situations, and cope better with stress. Best time for sports and activities. Short-term memory allows us to quickly retain new knowledge. At about 12 o'clock secretion begins to increase gastric juice. This is a good time for lunch.

13.00-15.00 - this is the best time to consume nutrients. An afternoon nap will bring energy. Works well digestive system, but no muscles. Around 3 pm we are less sensitive to pain, so it is a good time for painful procedures.

15.00-17.00 - the body works at high speeds again. Long-term memory works best - this is the ideal time to review material. The number of antibodies in the body reaches its maximum. Increase blood pressure, muscles and tendons are the most flexible. This best time to break the record. Better sense of taste and smell.

17.00-19.00 - at that time last appointment food. The body perceives alcohol better.

20.00-22.00 - the body prepares for sleep, the rate of metabolism and bowel movements has decreased significantly. What you eat at this time everything turns into fat.

22.00-24.00 - the level of testosterone and adrenaline in the blood decreases. Around midnight, cells regenerate, time to maintain health and beauty.

Listen to your body and it will thank you, and your female internal biological clock will help you use time correctly.

It has long been noted that all life on Earth obeys certain rhythms that are set by global processes. This is the daily rotation of the planet around its axis and its movement along the solar orbit. Living organisms somehow sense time, and their behavior is subject to its flow. This is manifested in the alternation of periods of activity and sleep in animals, in the opening and closing of flowers in plants. Every spring, migratory birds return to their nesting sites, hatch their chicks, and migrate to warmer regions for the winter.

What is a biological clock?

The rhythmicity of all life processes is a property inherent in all inhabitants of our planet. For example, marine unicellular flagellates glow at night. It is unknown why they do this. But during the day they do not glow. Flagellates acquired this property during the process of evolution.

Every living organism on Earth - both plants and animals - has an internal clock. They determine the frequency of life activity, tied to the length of the earth’s day. This biological clock adapts its course to the frequency of day and night; it does not depend on temperature changes. In addition to daily cycles, there are seasonal (annual) and lunar periods.

Biological clock is to some extent a conventional concept, implying the ability of living organisms to navigate in time. This property is inherent in them at the genetic level and is inherited.

Studying the mechanism of the biological clock

For a long time, the rhythmicity of the life processes of living organisms was explained by the rhythmicity of changes in environmental conditions: illumination, humidity, temperature, Atmosphere pressure and even the intensity of cosmic radiation. However, simple experiments have shown that the biological clock works regardless of changes in external conditions.

Today it is known that they are present in every cell. In complex organisms, clocks form a complex hierarchical system. This is necessary to function as a whole. If any organs and tissues are not coordinated in time, various types diseases. The internal clock is endogenous, that is, it has an internal nature and is adjusted by signals from the outside. What else do we know?

Biological clocks are inherited. In recent years, evidence of this fact has been found. Cells have clock genes. They are subject to mutations and natural selection. This is necessary to coordinate life processes with the daily rotation of the Earth. Since at different latitudes the ratios of day and night lengths are not the same throughout the year, clocks are also needed to adapt to the changing seasons. They must consider whether day and night increase or decrease. There is no other way to distinguish between spring and autumn.

By studying the biological clocks of plants, scientists have discovered the mechanism by which they adapt to changes in day length. This occurs with the participation of special phytochrome regulators. How does this mechanism work? The phytochrome enzyme exists in two forms, which change from one to the other depending on the time of day. The result is a clock regulated by external signals. All processes in plants - growth, flowering - depend on the concentration of the phytochrome enzyme.

The mechanism of the intracellular clock has not yet been fully studied, but most of the way has been covered.

Circadian rhythms in the human body

Periodic changes in the intensity of biological processes are associated with the alternation of day and night. These rhythms are called circadian, or circadian. Their frequency is about 24 hours. Although circadian rhythms are associated with processes occurring outside the body, they are of endogenous origin.

Man has no organs and physiological functions, which would not obey daily cycles. Today there are more than 300 known.

The human biological clock regulates the following processes in accordance with circadian rhythms:

Heart rate and breathing rate;

The body's consumption of oxygen;

Intestinal peristalsis;

The intensity of the glands;

Alternation of sleep and rest.

These are just the main manifestations.

The rhythm of physiological functions occurs at all levels - from changes within the cell to reactions at the level of the body. Experiments recent years showed that circadian rhythms are based on endogenous, self-sustaining processes. The human biological clock is set to oscillate every 24 hours. They are associated with changes in environment. The ticking of the biological clock is synchronized with some of these changes. The most characteristic of them are the alternation of day and night and daily temperature fluctuations.

It is believed that in higher organisms the main clock is located in the brain in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the thalamus. They lead to him nerve fibers from optic nerve, and the blood brings, among others, the hormone melatonin, produced by the pineal gland. This is an organ that was once the third eye of ancient reptiles and retained the functions of regulating circadian rhythms.

Biological clock of organs

All physiological processes in the human body occur in a certain cycle. Temperature, pressure, and blood sugar concentration change.

Human organs are subject to a circadian rhythm. Over the course of 24 hours, their functions alternate between periods of rise and fall. That is, always, at the same time, for 2 hours the organ works especially efficiently, after which it enters the relaxation phase. At this time, the organ rests and recovers. This phase also lasts 2 hours.

For example, the phase of rising gastric activity occurs from 7 to 9 hours, followed by a decline, from 9 to 11. The spleen and pancreas are active from 9 to 11, and rest from 11 to 13. For the heart, these periods occur at 11-13 hours and 13-15. U Bladder activity phase - from 15 to 17, rest and rest - from 17 to 19.

The biological clock of organs is one of those mechanisms that has allowed the inhabitants of the Earth to adapt to the circadian rhythm over millions of years of evolution. But man-made civilization is steadily destroying this rhythm. Research shows that it’s easy to unbalance the body’s biological clock. It is enough just to radically change your diet. For example, start having dinner in the middle of the night. Therefore, a strict diet is a fundamental principle. It is especially important to observe it from early childhood, when the biological clock of the human body “winds up”. Life expectancy directly depends on this.

Chronogerontology

This is a new, recently emerged scientific discipline that studies age-related changes biological rhythms that occur in the human body. Chronogerontology arose at the intersection of two sciences - chronobiology and gerontology.

One of the subjects of research is the mechanism of functioning of the so-called “large biological clock”. This term was first introduced into circulation by the outstanding scientist V. M. Dilman.

“Large biological clock” is a rather relative concept. It is, rather, a model of the aging processes occurring in the body. It gives an understanding of the relationship between a person’s lifestyle, his food preferences and his actual biological age. This clock keeps track of life expectancy. They record the accumulation of changes in the human body from birth to death.

The course of the large biological clock is uneven. They are either in a hurry or lagging behind. Their progress is influenced by many factors. They either shorten or lengthen life.

The principle of operation of large biological clocks is that they do not measure periods of time. They measure the rhythm of processes, or more precisely, the loss of it with age.

Research in this direction can help solve the main problem of medicine - the elimination of diseases of aging, which today are the main obstacle to reaching the species limit of human life. Now this figure is estimated at 120 years.

Dream

The internal rhythms of the body regulate all vital processes. The time of falling asleep and waking up, the duration of sleep - the “third eye” - the thalamus - is responsible for everything. It has been proven that this part of the brain is responsible for the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates human biorhythms. Its level is subject to daily rhythms and is regulated by illumination of the retina. With changes in light intensity, melatonin levels increase or decrease.

The sleep mechanism is very delicate and vulnerable. Disruption of the alternation of sleep and wakefulness, which is inherent in a person by nature, causes serious harm health. Thus, constant shift work, which involves labor activity at night is associated with a higher likelihood of developing diseases such as diabetes Type 2, heart attacks and cancer.

In sleep, a person completely relaxes. All organs rest, only the brain continues to work, systematizing the information received during the day.

Reduced sleep duration

Civilization makes its own adjustments to life. By studying the biological sleep clock, scientists discovered that modern man sleeps 1.5 hours less than people in the 19th century. Why is reducing the time of night rest dangerous?

Disruption of the natural rhythm of alternating sleep and wakefulness leads to malfunctions and disturbances in the functioning of the vital systems of the human body: immune, cardiovascular, endocrine. Lack of sleep leads to excess body weight and affects vision. A person begins to feel discomfort in the eyes, the clarity of the image is impaired, and there is a danger of developing a serious disease - glaucoma.

Lack of sleep causes problems at work endocrine system person, thereby increasing the risk of a serious illness - diabetes.

Researchers have discovered an interesting pattern: life expectancy is longer in people who sleep from 6.5 to 7.5 hours. Both reduction and increase in sleep time leads to a decrease in life expectancy.

Biological clock and women's health

Many studies have been devoted to this problem. A woman's biological clock is her body's ability to produce offspring. There is another term - fertility. We are talking about the age limit favorable for having children.

A few decades ago, the clock showed the thirty-year mark. It was believed that realizing oneself as mothers for the fair sex after this age was associated with a risk to the health of the woman and her unborn child.

Now the situation has changed. The number of women who conceived a child for the first time between the ages of 30 and 39 increased significantly - 2.5 times - and those who did so after 40 increased by 50%.

Nevertheless, experts consider 20-24 years to be a favorable age for motherhood. Often the desire to get an education and realize oneself in the professional field wins. Only a few women take responsibility for raising a child at this age. Puberty is 10 years ahead of emotional maturity. Therefore, most experts are inclined to believe that for modern woman The optimal time to give birth to a child is 35 years. Today they are no longer included in the so-called risk group.

Biological clock and medicine

The human body's response to various influences depends on the phase of the circadian rhythm. Therefore, biological rhythms play an important role in medicine, especially in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. Thus, the effect of medications depends on the phase of the circadian biorhythm. For example, when treating teeth, the analgesic effect is maximal from 12 to 18 hours.

Changes in the sensitivity of the human body to medicines studies chronopharmacology. Based on information about daily biorhythms, the most effective drug regimens are developed.

For example, purely individual fluctuations in blood pressure require consideration of this factor when taking medications for treatment. hypertension, ischemia. So, in order to avoid a crisis, people at risk should take medications in the evening, when the body is most vulnerable.

In addition to the fact that the biorhythms of the human body influence the effect of taking drugs, rhythm disturbances can cause various diseases. They belong to the so-called dynamic ailments.

Desynchronosis and its prevention

For human health great value has daylight. It is sunlight that provides natural synchronization of biorhythms. If the lighting is insufficient, as happens in winter, a failure occurs. This can be the cause of many diseases. Mental (depressive states) and physical (decreased general immunity, weakness, etc.) develop. The cause of these disorders lies in desynchronosis.

Desynchronosis occurs when the human body's biological clock malfunctions. The reasons may be different. Desynchronosis occurs when changing time zones for a long period, during the adaptation period during the transition to winter (summer) time, during shift work, addiction to alcohol, and disordered eating. This is expressed in sleep disorders, migraine attacks, decreased attention and concentration. As a result, apathy and depression may occur. For older people, adaptation is more difficult and it takes them longer.

To prevent desynchronosis and correct body rhythms, substances are used that can influence the phases of biological rhythms. They are called chronobiotics. They are found in medicinal plants.

The biological clock lends itself well to correction with the help of music. It helps to increase labor productivity when performing monotonous work. Sleep disorders and neuropsychiatric diseases are also treated with the help of music.

Rhythm in everything is the way to improve the quality of life.

Practical significance of biorhythmology

Biological clock is an object of serious scientific research. Their customers include many sectors of the economy. The results of studying the biological rhythms of living organisms are successfully applied in practice.

Knowledge of the rhythms of life of domestic animals and cultivated plants helps improve the efficiency of agricultural production. Hunters and fishermen use this knowledge.

Daily fluctuations in the body physiological processes takes into account medical science. The effectiveness of taking medications surgical interventions, execution medical procedures and manipulation directly depends on the biological clock of organs and systems.

The achievements of biorhythmology have long been used in organizing the work and rest regime of airliner crews. Their work involves crossing several time zones in one flight. Elimination adverse influence This factor is very important for maintaining the health of airline flight personnel.

It is difficult to do without the achievements of biorhythmology in space medicine, especially when preparing for long flights. Far-reaching grandiose plans to create human settlements on Mars will apparently not be possible without studying the peculiarities of the functioning of the human biological clock in the conditions of this planet.