What are exogenous zeitgebers?

Exogenous zeitgebers (EZ) are external stimuli from the environment that influence our biological cycles and rhythms such as light.

What are examples of zeitgebers?

Some of the examples of zeitgebers are light, temperature, eating or drinking patterns, etc. These external cues help the internal biological clock to be consistent with the rhythmic cycle. This process wherein the rhythmic events match the period to an environmental oscillation is called entrainment.

What is the most important exogenous zeitgeber for most animals What role does it play?

Exogenous Zeitgebers They can include social cues, such as meal times and social activities, but the most important zeitgeber is light, which is responsible for resetting the body clock each day, keeping it on a 24-hour cycle.

Are social cues zeitgebers?

While light is considered the dominant stimulus for entraining (synchronizing) mammalian circadian rhythms to local environmental time, social stimuli are also widely cited as ‘zeitgebers’ (time-cues). In humans, social zeitgebers appear weak by comparison with light.

Which is an example of an exogenous zeitgeber?

Exogenous zeitgebers refer to external stimulus such as light, temperature and social cues which all regulate biological rhythms.

How are pacemakers reset by exogenous zeitgebers?

Through a process called entrainment endogenous pacemakers are reset by exogenous zeitgebers. Exogenous zeitgebers refer to external stimulus such as light, temperature and social cues which all regulate biological rhythms.

What happens if organisms do not have zeitgebers?

If organisms were lacking these zeitgebers then the biological rhythms such as the sleep wake cycle would be on a different time frame to the external environment; for instance the shorter days in winter wouldn’t be detected.

How is the zeitgeber related to the circadian clock?

Under these circumstances, the circadian clock alone modulates the body’s biological rhythms. Normally however, external cues like light-dark cycles and social interactions also exert an influence on the body’s rhythms. These zeitgebers do so by alerting individuals to changes in the likelihood of possible rewards or threats in the environment.