Physiology of Circadian Rhythm and its Disturbances, NASA Sleep Shift Operations

Kurzfassung

The underlying principles of the circadian system and its expression in body functions are explained. We will also discuss the methods, how the circadian functions are measured, parameters are extracted from data, and now the results are drawn. Disturbances of circadian rhythms which occur in aviation and space missions, but also in shiftwork, are explained and demonstrated by examples from aerospace research. The causes for rhythm disturbances by environmental influences are described. Practical consequences of space shiftwork are discussed and the results from research on countermeasures against the perfomance-impairing effects of circadian rhythm an sleep disturbances are shown.