Effect of Rapid Transposition Around the Earth on Diurnal Variation in Body Temperature.

Abstract

Summary The diurnal pattern of body temperature was observed on 3 members of a family including a 6-year-old child for 2 weeks covering the period during and after an east-bound flight which resulted in an advance of daily routine as much as 10 hours. Adjustment of diurnal rhythm to a new local time was discussed with reference to the speed of transposition. With a rapid shift of local time zones the characteristics of the normal pattern were disturbed, but gradually approximated the new time pattern (approximately 40-50 minutes shift per day).