The ultradian alternation of rest/activity periods displayed by 10 C3H
mice in diurnal condition, and by 10 others in nocturnal conditions,
was compared with simulated sequences that respectively optimized thre
e functional criteria, i.e. energy input, energy output, and net energ
y gain, accumulated over 11 consecutive hours. The simulated sequences
were generated by means of a dynamic programming algorithm used in co
njunction with a food-intake dynamic behavioural model. On one hand, t
he results obtained do not confirm the hypothesis whereby the animals
optimize energy input or output criteria. On the other hand, they do n
ot invalidate the hypothesis according to which the effect of the C3H
mouse's ultradian activity rhythm would be to maximize net energy gain
over a nycthemeral period, possibly under constraints that can only b
e identified through additional experimentation.