Sleep, Circadian Rhythms and Metabolism

The natural and internal process which maintains the sleep-wake cycle is termed as a circadian rhythm. It repeats every 24 hours. It is endogenous in nature and responds to the environment. Circadian rhythms are governed by the circadian clock and can be seen in various types of organisms such as animals, plants, cyanobacteria and fungi. The primary circadian clock within mammals is located within a specific collection of cells in the hypothalamus called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). A...