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Oh My Goodness, Not Another Body Rhythm!

© Stephen Weistling

Relating to the shiftworker’s ability to effectively operate in the 24-hour world, we have discussed how the body’s circadian system is timed to coincide with the cycles of night and day, and how changes in the shiftworker’s schedule throws these cycles out of alignment.

While in the process of researching an article on hypnosis, I become acquainted with other “rhythms” in the body operating similarly to circadian rhythms, set to different “clocks” in our bodies. The following is a listing of all these rhythms:

1. Circadian rhythm: Occurring on a 24-hour cycle. (sleeping, wakefulness)

2. Infradian rhythm: Occurring longer than a day (e.g. menstruation)

3. Ultradian rhythm: Occurring more than once a day (such as REM sleep, heart rate, and body temperature)

4. Diurnal rhythm: Occurring during the waking day (such as certain gastrointestinal functions)

5. Circannual rhythm: Occurring about once a year (such as the hibernation cycle)

From previous articles, you may remember that circadian and circannual rhythms are both largely timed by the production of hormones in response to light (such as melatonin and the pineal gland) and sometimes to other environmental factors. In the case of ultradian rhythms, it is felt that hormone production is “pulsed,” accounting for the timed cycles. Shiftworkers and others can benefit from the knowledge of these rhythms in the following way.

Although ultradian rhythms operate in many parts of our bodies, today we look at the research that shows that the left and right hemispheres of the brain are “charged” and “discharged” in regular cycles. At various times of the day, one or the other of the hemispheres is dominant.

It is believed that when the left hemisphere of the brain is dominant, linear and logical thought is enhanced, and is characterized by the ability to more easily focus on tasks and problems.

When the right hemisphere is dominant, the individual is in a more relaxed and creative mode, where daydreaming is more predominant.

According to the available information, when you arise in the morning, it is common to have a 90-120 minute period of focused attention. (In other words, your left hemisphere is dominant.) That period is then followed by approximately 20 minutes of right hemisphere dominance (where you are in your more non-focused creative mode.) This period is when your brain is telling you to relax and go with the flow.

During the remainder of the day, these rhythms (also known as trance cycles) continue on a 90-120 minute cycle with 20-minute respites, called the ultradian healing response periods or recoveries.

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