The Biology of Sleep

Understanding Sleep Biology

Do you know your Circadian Phase? This is part of your chronobiology, and represents the daily cycle of sleep/wake time and can be used by individuals to identify when their body’s biological clock is ready for them to go to sleep. Many of us work against or fight our body’s natural sleep cycle, which is also known as our “circadian rhythm”. However, a simple saliva test can determine your actual circadian rhythm (in relation to your Circadian Phase) through a testing routine called Dim Light Melatonin Onset (DLMO). DLMO testing can uncover disturbances in your body’s natural circadian rhythm using several saliva samples collected over the course of an evening. Check out the resources on this page to learn more about how your circadian rhythm affects everything from your sleep to stress, to aging.