"Explaining jet lag symptom dynamics by mathematical estimates of circadian phase" and "Sleep/circadian phase relationships: Insights from the mathematics of coupled oscillators"

A central question in chronobiology is the response to circadian disturbances. Therefore, we are developing a method to explain jet lag symptom dynamics based on a continuous estimate of circadian misalignment. In this talk we base our consideration on the well-established mathematical model by Jewett, Forger and Kronauer and a recent jet lag study with 90 participants reporting their daily symptomatology from 7 days before to 7 days after their flight across multiple time zones. By approximating the individual light exposure during the study period, we receive an estimate of the circadian misalignment which we discuss statistically in the context of the symptomatology of the participants.

11:25am - 11:40am: Rachel Bernasconi "Sleep/circadian phase relationships: Insights from the mathematics of coupled oscillators"

Sleep duration and internal phase relationship (i.e. the timing of our body’s near-24 h ‘circadian’ clock relative to our sleep/wake cycle) are important measures in sleep medicine.  Both can vary greatly between individuals.  In this short talk, I will illustrate how coupled oscillator theory – applied to the two-process model of sleep/wake regulation – can reproduce the large inter-individual differences in sleep duration and phase relationship, as well as provide insight into the physiological mechanisms that might underlie these differences.