Minutes, days and years: molecular interactions among different scales of biological timing

GOLOMBEK, DA; BUSSI, IL; AGOSTINO, PV

PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

ROYAL SOC

Año: 2014 vol. 369 p. 20120465 - 20120475

0962-8436

Biological clocks are genetically encoded oscillators that allow organisms to keep track of their environment. Among them, the circadian system is a highly conserved timing structure that regulates several physiological, metabolic and behavioural functions with periods close to 24 h. Time is also crucial for everyday activities that involve conscious time estimation. Timing behaviour in the second-to-minutes range, known as interval timing, involves the interaction of cortico-striatal circuits. In this review, we summarize current findings on the neurobiological basis of the circadian system, both at the genetic and behavioural level, and also focus on its interactions with interval timing and seasonal rhythms, in order to construct a multi-level biological clock.