‖ zeitgeber Physiol.
(ˈtsaɪtgeːbər)
Pl. same or (anglicized) zeitgebers.
[Ger. (J. Aschoff 1954, in Naturwissenschaften XLI. 49), f. zeit time + geber giver.]
A rhythmically occurring event, esp. in the environment, which acts as a cue in the regulation of certain biological rhythms in an organism.
| 1964 E. Bünning Physiological Clock ii. 9 The change of light and dark or alternations of high and low temperatures have a synchronizing effect on the endodiurnal rhythm; they function as ‘Zeitgeber’ (cues, synchronizers). 1969 New Scientist 21 Aug. 369/2 Light is known to be the zeitgeber for the ant-lion's solar-day rhythm. 1975 D. Vince-Prue Photoperiodism in Plants v. 169 The signals responsible for entrainment have been called zeitgebers. 1975 Nature 27 Nov. 291/2 The various rhythms respond to changes in the phase or the period of the entraining cycle (the Zeitgeber). 1983 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 6 Aug. 426/2 Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland during the night... In rats it will act as a ‘zeitgeber’ or synchroniser of the rest-activity cycle under conditions of zero environmental input. |