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A Simpler Model of the Human Circadian Pacemaker

Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138

Megan E. Jewett

Circadian, Neuroendocrine and Sleep Disorders Section, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115

Richard E. Kronauer

Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138; Circadian, Neuroendocrine and Sleep Disorders Section, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115

Numerous studies have used the classic van der Pol oscillator, which contains a cubic nonlinearity, to model the effect of light on the human circadian pacemaker. Jewett and Kronauer demonstrated that Aschoff's rule could be incorporated into van der Pol type models and used a van der Pol type oscillator with higher order nonlinearities. Kronauer, Forger, and Jewett have proposed a model for light preprocessing, Process L, representing a biochemical process that converts a light signal into an effective drive on the circadian pacemaker. In the paper presented here, the authors use the classic van der Pol oscillator with Process L and Jewett and Kronauer's model of Aschoff's rule to model the human circadian pacemaker. This simpler cubic model predicts the results of a three-pulse human phase response curve experiment and a two-pulse amplitude reduction study with as much, or more, accuracy as the models of Jewett and Kronauer and Kronauer, Forger, and Jewett, which both employ a nonlinearity of degree 7. This suggests that this simpler cubic model should be considered as a potential alternative to other models of the human circadian system currently available.

Key Words: biological rhythms • model • bright light • amplitude • van der Pol oscillator • human circadian pacemaker

Journal of Biological Rhythms, Vol. 14, No. 6, 533-538 (1999)
DOI: 10.1177/074873099129000867


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