Biological autonomy and control of function in circadian cycle

Abstract

Purpose The present study explored biological autonomy and control of function in circumstances that assessed a presumed relationship to an environmental cycle. An understanding of this behavior appeals to the organism-environment system rather than simply the organism—we seek to expose the laws that underlie end-directed capabilities by measuring biological characteristics (motor synchrony) in an environmental cycle (circadian temperature). Methods Participants (n = 24) at the University of Connecticut (Storrs, USA) and the Seoul National University (Seoul, Korea) served in the study. The production of in-phase bi-manual coordination was examined at different circadian points (allowing comparison of day-night temperature effects) in two experimental designs; (1) normal temperature embedded in a 24 hour cycle (5:00, 12:00, 17:00, and 24:00), and (2) normal versus abnormal temperature [artificially decreasing or increasing] while embedded at two points (5:00 am, 5:00 pm) during the circadian process. A typical bi-manual stability measure varied significantly as a function of the day-night temperature cycle. Results While (i) circadian effects under the artificially perturbed temperature manipulation were not straightforward along the day-night temperature cycle, (ii) the circadian effect divided by the ordinary circadian seems to be constant along the day-night temperature cycle. Conclusions The discovery of direct and robust relation between biological aspects (body temperature and motor synchrony) an environmental process (circadian temperature cycle) may echo adaptation of our biological system to the environment. This relation supports the claim that the organism and the environment should be considered as integrated system in which biological (or physical) dynamics takes place as a mutual factor.