Estudo da organização funcional do sistema circadiano por meio de ferramentas computacionais e matemáticas ; Gonçalves, bsb. study of the functional organization of the circadian system through computer modeling and analysis mathematics. Tese de doutorado em psicobiologia, ufrn, 137 páginas, 2013

Circadian rhythms are variations in physiological processes that help living beings to adapt to environmental cycles. These rhythms are generated and are synchronized to the dark light cycle through the suprachiasmatic nucleus. The integrity of circadian rhythmicity has great implication on human health. Currently it is known that disturbances in circadian rhythms are related to some problems of today such as obesity, propensity for certain types of cancer and mental disorders for example. The circadian rhythmicity can be studied through experiments with animal models and in humans directly. In this work we use computational models to gather experimental results from the literature and explain the results of our laboratory. Another focus of this study was to analyze data rhythms of activity and rest obtained experimentally. Here we made a review on the use of variables used to analyze these data and finally propose an update on how to calculate these variables. Our models were able to reproduce the main experimental results in the literature and provided explanations for the results of experiments performed in our laboratory. The new variables used to analyze the rhythm of activity and rest in humans were more efficient to describe the fragmentation and synchronization of this rhythm. Therefore, the work contributed improving existing tools for the study of circadian rhythms in mammals ; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico ; Os ritmos circadianos são variações em processos fisiológicos que auxiliam os seres vivos na adaptação aos ciclos ambientais. Esses ritmos são gerados e se sincronizam ao ciclo claro escuro por meio do núcleo supraquiasmático. A integridade da ritmicidade circadiana tem grande implicação na saúde dos seres humanos. Atualmente sabe-se que distúrbios nos ritmos circadianos estão relacionados com alguns problemas da atualidade como a obesidade, propensão a determinados tipos de câncer e transtornos mentais por exemplo. A ritmicidade circadiana pode ser estudada por ...