About Careers Internship MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Sunrise and Sunset Can Influence Your Daily Activities

by Hannah Joy on November 25, 2017 at 10:40 AM
Sunrise and Sunset Can Influence Your Daily Activities

Individuals daily activities living in modern, urban environments varies depending on the sunrise and sunset, reveals a new study published in PLOS Computational Biology.

Like many other organisms, humans have an internal biological clock that helps them adapt to different environmental cues, such as light and darkness.

Advertisement


In modern cities, people also must adhere to a social clock of daily activities, such as work, leisure, and schooling.

"How does the daily rhythm of humans pan out under the simultaneous ticking of these two clocks?" asked Daniel Monsivais of Aalto University School of Science, Finland, who led the new study. To find the answer, he and colleagues employed an emerging technique known as "reality mining," in which patterns of human activity are inferred by analyzing use of wireless devices.
Advertisement

The researchers obtained anonymous records of call times over the course of one year for about one million mobile phone users in a country in southern Europe (use of the data was contingent on keeping the country's identity unknown). A user's sleep/wake cycle was inferred by noting daily periods when their calling activity started and ceased.

Analysis of the call records revealed that, despite a shared time zone, the timing of sunrise and sunset at people's respective longitudes still guided the start and end of their daily activities. Over one year, changes in the timing of daily activities corresponded to seasonal variations in the timing of sunrise and sunset.

The researchers also found that women tended to sleep more than men (confirming findings from previous studies), and that duration of sleep varied with age. As people approached adulthood, they tended to sleep for longer amounts of time. Sleep duration then decreased slightly for middle-aged people and increased again in the elderly.

These findings could have implications for human health, the economy, power consumption, and public transportation all of which are influenced by the timing of human activity.

"The next step in our study is to use this type of big data approach to understand the difference in behavior between urban and rural populations, as it pertains to the role of social and biological clocks in their daily routines," Monsivais says.



Source: Eurekalert
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Latest Lifestyle and Wellness News

Work Breaks - Need of the Hour to Counteract Prolonged Sitting
Prolonged sitting among office goers, pose risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, and certain types of cancers.
Fear of Garlic Bad Breath? Try Deodorizing Effect of Yogurt
Yogurt's protein and fat content demonstrated its unidentified deodorizing properties against garlic's pungent odor.
Smoking Tobacco and Cannabis Tied to Depression Risk
People who smoke tobacco and cannabis have an increased risk of depression and anxiety than those who use either substance alone or not at all.
Prevent Cognitive Decline in High-Activity Jobs
Research reveals the association between cognitive impairment and physically demanding careers, emphasizing the need for preventative strategies.
Physical Activity's Importance in Combating Sedentary Lifestyle
Excessive and protracted sedentary mode of life can result in cardiovascular problems, loss of muscle mass, increased body fat, and more.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
MediBotMediBot
Greetings! How can I assist you?MediBot
×

Sunrise and Sunset Can Influence Your Daily Activities Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests