Definition
Endogenous oscillations are rhythmic intrinsic physiological processes by which biological systems establish time.
Introduction
Endogenous oscillations refer to the naturally occurring mechanism by which biological systems mediate a wide array of rhythmic physiological and behavioral changes in organisms. In mammals, these highly conserved rhythms/cycles assume an approximate 24-h period, in the absence of external cues (i.e., zeitgebers), such as light.
Because the intrinsic biological clock maintains its periodicity in the absence of external cues, it is said to “free run.” Though the internal biological clock can keep time on its own, it tends to synchronize or “entrain” to environmental stimuli, primarily light, hence roughly the period of one solar day. Entrainment of the biological clock to light (as well as subsequent physiological responses) is mediated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus (Partch et al. 2014). The coordinated actions of both the...
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References
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Colella, C. (2022). Endogenous Oscillations. In: Vonk, J., Shackelford, T.K. (eds) Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55065-7_1920
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55065-7_1920
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