Effect of continuous light on periodic spontaneous activity of white-footed mice (Peromyscus)

✍ Scribed by Johnson, Maynard S.

• Book ID: 102888985
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1939
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 685 KB
• Volume: 82
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-104X
• DOI: 10.1002/jez.1400820209

✦ Synopsis

It has been shown (Johnson, '26) that the white-footed mouse has, normally, a well-marked daily periodicity of spontaneous activity, and that this periodicity persists for months when the mouse is kept in continuous darkness. About half of each 24-hour period is spent in almost continuous activity, and the other half in almost uninterrupted quiet. The active period normally occurs at night, but in continuous darkness can be made to come at any time, during solar day or night, and so can be shown not to be dependent on any unrecognized and uncontrolled daily variable in the environment. The active period occurs a t about the same hours day after day, when the mouse is kept in continuous darkness, and the records of activity and rest are quite indistinguishable from those made under conditions of alternating day and night. Tests have since been made to determine the effect of continuous light of different intensities on the daily rhythm of spontaneous activity. The results so far obtained are presented here.