| Abstract: | A spectrum of rhythms with several frequencies importantly characterizes not only the central nervous system but also the neuroendocrines and endocrines, other structures and organs, beyond the level of the cell to subcellular structures; it has a wide bearing since chronobiologic methods and facts relate to both basic research and its bearing on major problems of our day. Perhaps most important, computer analysis of data series allows study of temporal structure, progressive and rhythmic variations in life processes and in their responses to environment and drugs. By such methods coupled to modern data collection and/or self-measurement, chronobiology is particularly promising in the following areas, cited as illustrative rather than comprehensive examples: 1. Work hygiene: optimization of work schedules by adjustment of regular schedules and in particular of shift-work to the individuals' physical and mental rhythms. Experimentally, differences in manner of schedule change can account for the difference between the life span shortening and lengthening. 2. Population control: improved methods for detecting the neural as well as neurohormonal regulation of ovulatory cycles should aid efficient family planning by the recognition of a spectrum of rhythms and its synchronization with socio-ecologic factors acting, perhaps, via olfactory and/or other sensory modalities; 3. Nutrition: optimizing the utilization of ever scarcer food supplies and also the benefit from both oral and parenteral medications by meal timing; 4. Education: providing a do-it-yourself system for monitoring individual health in the context of secondary and adult education and as the basis for preventive health care; and, in another context, taking individual mental rhythms as well as morningness-eveningness into account in teaching and learning; 5. Health care: Any risk, e.g., from blood pressure rhythm alteration (perhaps preceding by years intermittent labile elevation) will be detected earlier and more efficiently by multiple measurements readily obtained by autorhythmometry. Results of such an endeavor provide at any one time indices that can be compared with an individualized rhythmometric reference standard as well as peer group rhythm parameters. The rhythm-determined average is more reliable than the single measurement. Other individualized characteristics of a rhythm, such as measures of extent of change or timing of change, may constitute an early warning signal and could be monitored by self-measured or preferably automatically-collected data. Timely and timed treatment can then be sought to prevent, in the case of blood pressure, elevation and consequent debilitating disease such as coronary infarction and stroke. 6. Therapy: One can strive toward the more specific correction of any pathogenic rhythm alteration when such can be recognized by modern methods of data collection and data analysis... |
