Circadian rhythms

Pronunciation
/sir-kay-dee-an rih-thuhmz/
Category
Behavior
Plural
Circadian rhythms

Definition

Biological rhythms that occur with a period close to 24 hours, influenced by environmental cues such as light and temperature.

Etymology

From Latin *circa* (meaning 'about') and *diem* (meaning 'day').

Example

Many animals, including humans, exhibit circadian rhythms in their sleep-wake cycles.

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