Biological Rhythms and the Timing of Death

Abstract

Factors affecting the timing of death have long been of interest to both scholars and laypersons. Within the last several decades there has been a proliferation of research in the area of biological rhythms associated with death. In this paper biological rhythms are considered in both the rigorous chronobiological and the popularized biorhythmic senses. Current literature shows strong evidence that rhythms with biological bases are a determinant of deaths, though the mechanisms underlying such rhythms remain a mystery. Implications of the information and needs for research of a cross-disciplinary nature are discussed. The study of biological rhythms is seen as holding much promise for insights into the desire of humans to understand and control the timing of death.