Our brain contains a built-in biological clock that ensures that our behaviour and body follow the natural day-night rhythm. This brain clock is sensitive to all kinds of external stimuli, such as the influence of (day)light. Through that mechanism, a biorhythm can adapt to changes in the day-night cycle due to seasonal variation, setting daylight saving time or travelling through different time zones, for example. Today's society, which is increasingly active 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, is making increasing demands on this biological system. The question is what health effects this has. Increasingly, people are working outside the standard 9-to-5 schedule. In addition, people are online everywhere and all the time, activating through work- and private-related calls throughout the day. In the process, computer and smartphone screens often emit bright and specific blue light, which is likely to cause additional activation. A well-known negative, unhealthy side effect is that people get worse sleep. In addition, disruptions in eating patterns, obesity and the risk of developing cancer have already been linked to the increasing infringement of a natural sleep-wake cycle.
Connecting character
Research on biorhythms connects behavioural sciences, neurobiology, medical and health research and physical-engineering research. The translation into applications in turn brings other disciplines on board, such as sociology, economics, business administration, as well as design disciplines. Technical and information technology innovations are rapidly changing society. The growth of the 24-hour economy has broad social effects. As more insight is gained into its negative effects on health, knowledge about why, in whom, and what exactly causes problems after a violation of biorhythms becomes highly relevant. More knowledge also provides starting points for individual optimisation depending on chronotype (morning or evening people), age stage and living and working conditions. Companies are interested in and benefit from this research because they see opportunities to prevent health problems in their staff. In doing so, they achieve a more effective use of people, with less absenteeism. But equally, there is a market for companies that can convert knowledge of biorhythms in relation to environmental design into products in the field of smart lighting, space design and tools for monitoring and coaching someone's activities throughout the day.
