Introduction
Ever since L. Ron Hubbard criticized the field of "psychology" that was primarily contributed to by Germans, resulting in Scientology not necessarily making itself a popular religion (if one can even call it that). Apparently, these Germans are 'evil' and all that jazz.
However, even if this were true, the Germans have not only contributed to the field of psychology but in almost every field of science and technology. One wonders whether we must ignore research and development made in all these fields as well, and return to the Dark Ages!
Strangely enough, one of these discoveries led to the term 'zeitgeber' which was coined by a German biologist Jürgen Aschoff in 1954 while studying the phenomenon of the 'circadian rhythm' that has been in existence among all living things since the beginning of time.
Zeitgeber
By itself, the term 'circadian rhythm' (circadian means 'approximately one day) is in reference to a rough 24-hour cycle in the behavioral, biochemical and physiological processes of living things, that is an important point of reference in the discipline of chronobiology.
The bottom line of this study is that all living things such as plants, animals, fungi and cyanobacteria all have an internal clock (or according to these scientists, it is an endogenous process) that governs their sleeping and waking patterns.
Even though this process is an internal one, the cues by which one wakes up or goes to sleep is an external one, and this external factor that is a part of our environment has been defined as a 'zeitgeber'. (timegiver or synchronizer in English)
And perhaps you might have noticed that almost every living being follows a sleep-waking cycle, and without sleep, one would not be able to function properly, and too much sleep gives you headaches or leaves you feeling groggy.
Just to make sure that one does not remain in sleep forever and a day, or does not go to sleep at all, as both cause health issues, these external cues are sounds or sights that effect our everyday life.
Examples of Zeitgeber
One of the most common example of a zeitgeber is the light that comes through our windows early in the morning which wakes us up while causing us to sleep when the sun goes down. This process where our internal system synchronizes with the external factor of night and day is known as entrainment.
Experts say that the best examples of zeitgebers are naturally occurring phenomenon such as a crowing of a rooster in the morning, which works as a cue to wake the person up.
There are other types of zeitgebers are social interactions, drinking, using medication and taking drugs which adjust the body's rhythms so that they respond to these events based on their consistent occurrences in the past.
In Closing
Come to think of it, I always think of having a beer when it rains, while for friends of mine, sex seems to come to mind. As strange as that seems, one can find this concept of a zeitgeber in almost every sphere of our lives.
Oh yes, and this has nothing to do with psychology and mad scientists sitting in a lab somewhere waiting to take someone's mind apart!
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Excellent info! Over the past few years I have been really interested in circadian rhythms, what internal and external factors influence them and what we can do to live a life that closely resembles these natural rhythms.
With the type of lives that we live in the 21st century, most peoples natural rhythm is totally shot. It can be hard to live a life that flows with all the natural patterns but we can still strive to make changes.
I never heard the word zeitgeber before even while looking into this field. Now that I know it I cannot stop repeating it out loud over and over. Something about the way it sounds coming out of the mouth, either that or I’m just weird. :)
Keep the great posts rolling!
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This is the first I have heard of zeitgeber, but it makes good sense. If only athletes could harness it to their advantage. Am noticing as I get older that I do not quite need as much sleep. Wonder if this has anything to do with it. Am certainly glad there are no roosters in my neighborhood.