Circadian Rhythms - Inside the Brain

Circadian rhythms are daily cycles of physiology and behaviour, with the cycle of sleep and wakefulness being the most obvious circadian rhythm in humans. Their biological role is to anticipate and thereby allow organisms to adapt to the solar day and night.

The principal circadian pacemaker is located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus, where individual neurons can operate as self-sustained circadian clocks. This same clock mechanism is also present in our major organ systems; heart, lungs, liver, kidney, etc. The SCN maintains synchrony amongst these sub-ordinate clocks via its control over behaviour, neuroendocrine pathways and the autonomic nervous system. The genes responsible for encoding our circadian clockwork have recently been identified.

Video created for the Royal Society Summer Exhibition 2006.

You can find more videos about circadian rhythms and the body clock here:

Another playlist you might be interested in:

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About the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB):
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[chandramaghosh]

What is the exact function of the clock proteins apart from inactivating the genes?

[kubad]

That's awesome. Now I don't have to remember this because I understand :)

[sohailafridi]

Speechless too...
Such a wonderful explanation.
😍❤.
I was actually confused that how suprachiasmatic nucleas can be awarded of the outside day or night, But after watching this vedio, it's compeletly cleared ...
Thank you so much ❤