All articles tagged with #biological rhythms
Scientists have discovered that rhythms in the brain and gut share similar physics, with coupled oscillation patterns helping to regulate blood flow and digestion, potentially offering insights into mental health and neurodegenerative diseases.
Scientists are uncovering the biological basis of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), highlighting the role of light and circadian rhythms in mood changes during winter. Advances in research, including large-scale data from UK Biobank, show that reduced daylight exposure affects hormone regulation and gene expression, contributing to SAD symptoms. Light therapy and cognitive behavioral approaches are effective treatments, and lifestyle adjustments like increased natural sunlight exposure can help mitigate winter blues.
Researchers at UC San Diego discovered that synchronized oscillations in the gut, modeled as coupled oscillators, explain how food moves through the digestive tract, revealing a staircase effect of frequency locking that supports peristalsis and may inform gastrointestinal health research.
Recent research suggests that aging occurs in three accelerated bursts around ages 40, 60, and 80, rather than gradually, and scientists are exploring ways to understand and potentially counteract these bursts.
Researchers have discovered that cyanobacteria use a mechanism similar to AM radio to regulate cellular processes, integrating signals from their circadian clock and cell cycle. This process, known as pulse amplitude modulation, allows the bacteria to encode information about both oscillatory signals in the same output. The study, conducted by teams from the Sainsbury Laboratory and the University of Warwick, highlights the potential broader implications of this mechanism in synthetic biology and biotechnology.