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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2021.01.21.427658

A brief report of sleep and circadian rhythm quotas in a population of dog owners in North Carolina, USA

Patel, U. A.·Gruen, M. E.·Samson, D. R.
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Abstract

ObjectivesTo characterize sleep and circadian rhythms of a sample population of healthy, dog-owning adults from North Carolina, USA. MethodsActigraphy was used to analyze sleep-wake patterns in forty-two dog owners from the Raleigh area in North Carolina. Sleep quotas, including sleep duration, efficiency, and fragmentation were measured alongside a Non-parametric Circadian Rhythms Analysis (NPCRA) to quantify strength, consistency, and fragmentation of rhythms. ResultsCompared to females, males demonstrated later sleep onset and sleep end (p<0.01), greater wake after sleep onset and sleep fragmentation (P<0.001), and lower sleep efficiency (p<0.001). The NPCRA revealed comparable relative amplitude (strength) and interdaily stability (consistency), yet less intra-daily variability (fragmentation), than previously reported post-industrial samples. ConclusionsThis study adds to the current data available on sleep and circadian rhythms in discrete human populations and highlights the need for more research characterizing cross-cultural sleep and circadian rhythmicity.

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Patel, U. A., Gruen, M. E., Samson, D. R.. 2021-01-22. A brief report of sleep and circadian rhythm quotas in a population of dog owners in North Carolina, USA. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.21.427658

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