Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Circadian Rhythm Disturbances

Circadian rhythm disturbances are disruptions of the body's internal biological clock, the roughly 24-hour timing system that regulates the sleep-wake cycle along with hormone release, body temperature, and other physiological processes. This clock, centered in the brain and entrained primarily by light, normally al…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 10 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 35× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2574-4518 🗓 Reviewed July 2026

Overview

Circadian rhythm disturbances are disruptions of the body's internal biological clock, the roughly 24-hour timing system that regulates the sleep-wake cycle along with hormone release, body temperature, and other physiological processes. This clock, centered in the brain and entrained primarily by light, normally aligns sleep and wakefulness with the day-night cycle; when its timing becomes misaligned with the external environment or internally dysregulated, the result is impaired sleep, daytime dysfunction, and broader physiological effects. Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders include delayed and advanced sleep phase patterns, in which the timing of sleep is shifted later or earlier than desired, as well as irregular or non-24-hour rhythms and misalignment caused by shift work or rapid travel across time zones. These disturbances may arise from environmental and lifestyle factors, aging, genetic predisposition, neurological conditions, and developmental disorders, and their expression can be shaped by cultural and behavioral influences. Consequences include difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, excessive sleepiness, fatigue, impaired concentration, and disturbances of mood and performance. Research in sleep medicine examines the mechanisms linking the circadian and sleep-regulatory systems, including signaling pathways such as the endocannabinoid system, the assessment of disrupted rhythms, and interventions ranging from behavioral and light-based approaches to pharmacological strategies. Understanding circadian rhythm disturbances is central to diagnosing and managing many sleep disorders and their health consequences.

Research published in this journal

10 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

How this research is being cited

The 10 articles above have been cited 35 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Circadian Rhythm Disturbances, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in Sleep And Sleep Disorder Research (ISSN 2574-4518).

Journal editorial board
Dragos Octavian Palade · Romania Mauro Manconi · Switzerland Karim Sedky · United States

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.