Night shift worries? Reset your body clock

October 04, 2013 15:50
Night shift worries? Reset your body clock

Is it really that simple? Scientists report they have come across a breakthrough in the area of the human body's circadian rhythms. As per their findings, it is possible to reset your body clock using a reset button present in your brain. So, if you're struggling with untimely shifts, maybe it is possible to reset your body clock.

No sleep in the morning and drowsiness during your night shift has a solution, scientists say. So does jet lag. Published in the journal, Science, the research has found a button that could switch the body's master clock to a new time or geographical area. Surprisingly, the researchers claim this can be done in a single day.

Normally, the body clock works around sunrise and sunset. The 'master clock' comprises 10,000 brain cells that co-ordinate to keep our body in tune with our surroundings. Night shifts and overseas travel disrupts this pattern, resulting in disrupted sleep and hunger patterns. Tweaking the vasopressin receptors, otherwise called brain cell ears, can set the clock to adjust to a new pattern more rapidly.

According to the Japanese researchers, "Jet lag is a blessing to circadian biologists because the disruption of mental and physical well-being immediately highlights the importance of our internal body clock.” The Kyoto University team further said, "Mice lacking receptors for the neuropeptide arginine vasopressin (AVP) are resistant to jet lag, providing new hope of overcoming this modern malaise. Not only may this help us recover from symptoms of jet lag, but it should also help unravel the neural circuit that sets the tempo to our lives."

Source: The Independent

(AW: Sruthi)

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