Life Sciences Seminar - Genotype, Chronotype, and Circadian Misalignment on Human Behavior
The Time of Our Lives: The influences of genotype, chronotype and circadian misalignment on human behavior and moodDr. Krista K. IngramAssociate Professor and Chair of BiologyColgate UniversityAbstract:Individual variation in daily internal physiological cycles, or circadian rhythms, can impact human behavior. The central molecular clock in the brain dictates the pace and strength of these rhythms via peripheral clocks throughout the body; these peripheral clocks can be influenced by environmental factors, creating a complex network of interactions that ultimately create a circadian phenotype or chronotype. Our modeling results describe how clock gene variants associated with extreme chronotypes (early birds or night owls) may affect the molecular clock period and phase. Our experimental results examine how clock variants and differential cycling of clock gene expression influences human behaviors, including athletic performance and decision-making, and is associated with mental health issues, including anxiety, depression and seasonal affective disorder.Intended Audience:Beginners, undergraduates, graduates. Those with interest in the topic.
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