A persistent circhoral ultradian rhythm is identified in human core temperature

There have been inconclusive reports of intermittent rhythmic fructuations in human core temperature, with the fluctuations having a period of about a n hour. However, there has been no definitive demonstration of the phenomen on. This is likely due to the intermittency and seeming instability of the events. They have been assumed to be secondary rather than autonomous pheno mena, putatively arising from the oscillation between rapid eye movement (R EM) and non-REM (NREM) sleep. In this study, we report identification of a clear, persistent circhoral ultradian rhythm in core temperature with a per iod for this study sample of 64 +/- 8 minutes. It appeared simultaneously w ith an intact circadian core temperature rhythm, persisted despite complex perturbations in core temperature brought about by the sequelae of 40h of s leep deprivation, and could not be attributed to sleep stage alternation or other endogenous or exogenous factors. Analysis of power spectra using the maximum entropy spectral analysis (MESA) method, which can uncover hidden rhythmicities, demonstrated that the apparent intermittency of the rhythm i s due to periodic interference of this rhythm by other rhythmic events. The persistence of this oscillation suggests that, in this system as in the en docrine system, circhoral regulation is an integral component of thermoregu latory control. Identifying the source and functional role of this never rh ythm warrants further work.