Post #8

"As long as habit and routine dictate the pattern of living, new dimensions of the soul will not emerge." -Henry Van Dyke 

Circadian rhythm is our own internal clock which allows for us to have certain routines through our life that we have to follow. There is certain times when we must sleep, and there is reasoning behind our drowsiness in the early afternoon. But the circadian rhythm runs the motion of sleep, our peak of energy, hunger, and release of hormones. Our need for sleep, does not come from one specific hidden reasoning, but rather form many uncertain ones. Either way, our body needs to rejuvenate and be of use so we do not crash the next day from a lack of. The hormone melatonin is at its highest level, when it is dark outside, which triggers feelings of sleepiness.

Our circadian rhythm can be thrown off because of jet lag and travel to different parts of the world. Because of the different time zones, and time the sun will set our sleep schedules are put on skew and so is our rhythm. This idea makes me wonder about people who live in Alaska and how their circadian rhythms have adjusted to the climate change and sun exposure times.

During the winters in Juneau, Alaska there are about five hours of light and in the summer twenty. To adjust to these light changes, most Alaskans will apply darkened shades in their bedrooms as well as participating in a great amount of exercise in order to be tired when it is time to sleep. In an essence, they are tricking their bodies into following a routine circadian rhythm.

I remember last year taking regular psychology with Mr. Van De Hinz, he had a light on his desk which produced an artificial real light, or something along those lines. But it was suppoesed to give him Vitamin D, and I suppose it is also similar to people's need to be kept awake and to have low levels of melatonin during the work day. 

Circadian rhythms not only occur in humans, but also in animals. Birds possess it through their ability to know when it is time to migrate. They sense the climate change as well as the shortened days of fall and winter. In a study done, arctic animals possessed circadian rhythms in all season with the exception of summer. The adaption the reindeer and ptarmigan make is truly incredible.