Beyond the master clock

• Research has revealed there are numerous circadian rhythms in many organs and cells of the body
• these are called peripheral oscillators and these are found in the adrenal gland, oesophagus, lungs, liver, pancreas, spleen, thymus and skin
• although these peripheral clocks are highly influenced by the actions of the SCN they act independently
• Francesca Damiola et al (2000) demonstrated how changing feeding patterns in mice may alter the circadian rhythms of cells in the liver by up to 12 hours, whilst leaving the rhythm of the SCN unaffected
• this suggests that there are many other complex influences on the sleep/wake cycle aside from the master clock (the SCN)