Six workers on a permanent night work schedule and 6 workers on a weekly rotating day‐night shift schedule were compared with regard to the quantity and quality of sleep as measured by EEG recordings, sleep diaries, and subjective ratings of sleep. They were also compared regarding the degree of adjustment of the body temperature rhythm and self‐rated activation. The observations for all variables were made at the beginning, end, and after the end of the night shift period, and also in connection with free days. It was shown that compared to rotating shiftworkers the permanent nightworkers exhibited a better adjustment of the body temperature rhythm to night work and day sleep and also had fewer disturbances in sleep functions during day sleep. The rotating shiftworkers showed the poorest adjustment of the body temperature rhythm and sleep functions during day sleep at the beginning of the night shift week, whereas for permanent nightworkers corresponding, albeit less pronounced, disturbances were present in connection with night sleep. It was concluded that there was a close relationship between the degree of adjustment of the body temperature rhythm and EEG sleep functions, with a permanent night work schedule facilitating the adjustment to night work.

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Long-term adjustment of circadian rhythms to a rotating shiftwork schedule. by Dahlgren K

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