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Abstract

In the absence of the entraining light-dark cycle, most totally blind humans free-run, albeit with relative coordination to nonphotic zeitgebers. Such blind free-runners (BFRs) often attempt to maintain a 24-h sleep-wake schedule and consequently suffer from recurrent sleep disruption and daytime somnolence. This study was conducted to determine the periods of the free-running melatonin rhythm and of the rest-activity cycle in 16 BFRs. It was found that the non-24-h component of the rest-activity rhythm correlated with the observed period of the circadian pacemaker.

Keywords

circadian human relative coordination blindness entrainment melatonin

References

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Supplementary Material

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Rest-Activity Cycle and Melatonin Rhythm in Blind Free-Runners Have Similar Periods

Abstract

Keywords

References

Supplementary Material