Zeitgeber

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Zeitgeber (from German for "time giver") is any external (exogenous) cue that entrains the internal (endogenous) time keeping system of organisms. The strongest Zeitgeber, for both plants and animals, is light. Other, non-photic, zeitgebers include social interactions, pharmacological manipulation and food/drinking patterns.

[edit] See also

[1]

• Phase response curve
• Circadian rhythm
• melatonin
• suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
• photic entrainment

[edit] Literature

• Aschoff J (1965) The phase-angle difference in circadian periodicity.In "Circadian Clocks" (J. Aschoff, ed.). North Holland Press, Amsterdam, p 262–278.

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