A fresh look at the use of nonparametric analysis in actimetry.

Actimetry has been used to estimate the sleep-wake cycle instead of the rest-activity rhythm. Although algorithms for assessing sleep from actimetry data exist, it is useful to analyze the rest-activity rhythm using nonparametric methods. This would then allow rest-activity rhythm stability, fragmentation and amplitude to be quantified. In addition, sleep and wakefulness efficiency can be quantified separately. These variables have been used in studies analyzing the effect of age, diseases and their respective treatments on human circadian rhythmicity. In this study, we carried out a comprehensive analysis of the main results from published articles and devised a functional model of interaction among the several components involved in generating the sleep-wake cycle. The nonparametric variables render it possible to infer the main characteristics of circadian rhythms, such as synchronization with a zeitgeber, and its amplitude and robustness.

The effect of different photoperiods in circadian rhythms of per3 knockout mice.

The aim of this study was to analyse the circadian behavioural responses of mice carrying a functional knockout of the Per3 gene (Per3(-/-)) to different light : dark (L : D) cycles. Male adult wild-type (WT) and Per3(-/-) mice were kept under 12-hour light : 12-hour dark conditions (12L : 12D) and then transferred to either a short or long photoperiod and subsequently released into total darkness. All mice were exposed to both conditions, and behavioural activity data were acquired through running wheel activity and analysed for circadian characteristics during these conditions. We observed that, during the transition from 12L : 12D to 16L : 8D, Per3(-/-) mice take approximately one additional day to synchronise to the new L : D cycle compared to WT mice. Under these long photoperiod conditions, Per3(-/-) mice were more active in the light phase. Our results suggest that Per3(-/-) mice are less sensitive to light. The data presented here provides further evidence that Per3 is involved in the suppression of behavioural activity in direct response to light.