Circadian rhythm dissociation in an environment with conflicting temporal information.

The relative contributions of light-dark (LD) cycles and feeding (EF) cycles in providing temporal information to the circadian time-keeping system were examined in chair-acclimatized squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus). The circadian rhythms of drinking, colonic temperature, urine volume, and urinary potassium excretion were measured with the LD and EF cycles providing either conflicting phases or periods. In conflicting phase experiments, animals were exposed to 24-h LD cycles consisting of 12 h of 600 lx followed by 12 h of less than 1 ls and concurrent 24-h EF cycles in which the animals ate for 3 h and then fasted for 21 h. One group had food available at the beginning and a second group at the end of the light period. In conflicting period experiments, monkeys were exposed to 23-h LD cycles (LD 11.5:11.5) and 24-h EF cycles (EF 3:21). Analysis of the rhythms showed that both phase and period information were conveyed to the drinking and urinary rhythms by the EF cycle, and to the temperature rhythm by the LD cycle.