Chronotype delay and sleep disturbances shaped by the Antarctic polar night

Chronotype is a reliable biomarker for studying the influence of external zeitgebers on circadian entrainment. Assessment of chronotype variation in participants exposed to extreme photoperiods may be useful to investigate how changes in light–dark cycle modulate the circadian system. This study aim...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific Reports
Main Authors: Tortello, C., Folgueira, A., Lopez, J. M., Didier Garnham, F., Sala Lozano, E., Rivero, M. S., Simonelli, G., Vigo, D. E., Plano, S. A.
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group UK 2023
Subjects:
Article
Antarc*
Antarctic
Antarctica
polar night
Online Access:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10518309/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37743400
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-43102-0
Description
Summary:Chronotype is a reliable biomarker for studying the influence of external zeitgebers on circadian entrainment. Assessment of chronotype variation in participants exposed to extreme photoperiods may be useful to investigate how changes in light–dark cycle modulate the circadian system. This study aimed to examine chronotype and sleep changes during a winter campaign at the Argentine Antarctic station Belgrano II. A sample of 82 men who overwintered in Antarctica completed the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire during March (daylight length: 18.6 h), May (daylight length: 2.8 h), July (daylight length: 0 h), September (daylight length: 14.5 h), November (daylight length: 24 h). The main results showed a decrease in sleep duration and a delay in chronotype and social jetlag during the polar night, highlighting the influence of social cues and the impact of the lack of natural light on circadian rhythms.

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