Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
The Masking Effects Of Light On Circadian Activity And Sleep Rhythms In Drosophila Melanogaster, Aaron David Sheppard
The Masking Effects Of Light On Circadian Activity And Sleep Rhythms In Drosophila Melanogaster, Aaron David Sheppard
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
As organisms evolved, so did mechanisms for synchronizing behavior to the environmental light-dark cycle. Two main mechanisms provide this link: the synchronization of an endogenous circadian oscillator with the exogenous environment (entrainment), and a process called "masking", which functions independently from the circadian clock. Organisms have evolved these endogenous and exogenous mechanisms to adapt to the light-dark cycle of their niches in order to integrate their behavioral and physiological responses with predictable changes in their environments, in this case changes involving the daily light-dark cycle.