Influence of Circadian Typology and Time of Day on Temporal Preparation

Abstract

The present study addressed the interactions between processes of circadian and millisecond timing by testing whether the ability for temporal preparation is influenced both by individual differences in circadian rhythmicity and by the time of day at which a task is performed. A temporal preparation task that measures temporal orienting and sequential effects was administered to morning-type and evening-type groups of participants, both in morning and evening sessions. The results confirmed a synchrony effect on overall reaction time (RT), indicating that participants were most vigilant at their optimal time of day according to their specific chronotype. This synchrony effect, however, did not influence temporal orienting or sequential effects. These findings suggest that only processes mediating overall RT (vigilance) but not processes related to temporal preparation are susceptible to circadian influence. The current research thus supports the dissociation between circadian timing and temporal preparation.

Mobile manifestations of alertness

“…We first explore how usage patterns vary for different chronotypes. As mentioned, chronotype modulates nearly all biological functions [84], including alertness performance [16]. Simply put, earlier chronotypes are more alert earlier in the day, and later chronotypes function at their peak alertness later [38].…”

“…In addition, the circadian rhythms these body clocks generate vary between individuals. A person’s “chronotype” represents his or her unique circadian profile [16], which manifests in biological and behavioral differences such as the timing of hormone secretions [73] and the predisposition to sleep and wake earlier or later [30] (i.e., “early birds” and “night owls”).…”