GERBIL.ZIP

This file is only 2 K long. It contains a single file (gerbil.hp). The file contains heat production data (in watts) for a 113 g male fat-tailed gerbil (Pachyuromys duprasi) maintained at an environmental temperature of 24°C for 6 consecutive days. Lights were on daily from 1200 to 2400 h (files start at 0000 h). Data resolution is 6 min. (Thus, the file contains 1,440 data points.)

GOAT.ZIP

This file is only 2 K long. It contains 6 files (goat1.ure, goat2.ure, ..., goat6.ure). The files contain data on blood concentration of urea (in mmol/l) for individual goats (Capra hircus) maintained at an environmental temperature of 19°C for 10 consecutive days. Lights were on daily from 0800 to 2000 h; feed was presented at 0800 h (files start at 0800 h). Data resolution is 3 h. (Thus, each file contains 80 data points.)

HAMSTER.ZIP

This file is 10 K long. It contains 6 files (hamster1.whl through hamster6.whl). The files contain running-wheel activity data for 2-month-old golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) maintained in constant darkness at 24°C for 13 days. Files hamster1.whl and hamster2.whl refer to homozygous tau-mutant hamsters, files hamster3.whl and hamster4.whl to heterozygous tau-mutant hamsters, and files hamster5.whl and hamster6.whl to wild-type hamsters. Data resolution is 6 min. (Thus, each file contains 3,120 data points.)

HORSE.ZIP

This file is only 2 K long. It contains 5 files (horse1.tb, horse2.tb, ..., horse5.tb). The files contain body temperature data (measured 15 cm into the rectum, in °C) for individual Thoroughbred female horses (Equus caballus) maintained at an environmental temperature of 13°C for 10 consecutive days. Lights were on daily from 0800 to 1700 h (files start at 0800 h). Data resolution is 2 h. (Thus, each file contains 120 data points.)

HUMAN.ZIP

This file is only 2 K long. It contains 3 files (SBP.txt, DBP.txt, and HR.txt). The files contain data for systolic blood pressure (mm Hg), diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg), and heart rate (beats per minute) of a sedentary 47-year-old male (Homo sapiens) living a normal life for 7 consecutive days. All files start at midnight. The subject's average sleep time was 3:00 AM, and his average wake time was 10:30 AM. Data resolution is 30 min. (Thus, each file contains 336 data points.)

NILE.ZIP

This file is 66 K long. It contains 10 files (nile1.whl through nile10.whl). The files contain running-wheel activity data for ten 4-month-old Nile grass rats (Arvicanthis niloticus) maintained in constant darkness at 24°C for 16 days and under a light-dark cycle for 23 days. Under the light-dark cycle, lights were on daily from 0800 to 2000 h (all files start at 0000 h). Data resolution is 6 min. (Thus, each file contains 9,360 data points.)

PILL.ZIP

This file is 5 K long. It contains 3 files (bug1.act, bug2.act, and bug3.act). The files contain locomotor activity data (crossings of an infrared beam) for individual pill bugs (Armadillidium vulgare) maintained at an environmental temperature of 24°C for 15 consecutive days. Lights were on daily from 0800 to 2000 h (files start at 0000 h). Data resolution is 6 min. (Thus, each file contains 3,600 data points.)

RAT.ZIP

This file is 14 K long. It contains 6 files (rat1.tb, rat1.hp, rat1.hl, rat2.tb, rat2.hp, rat2.hl). The files contain data on the body temperature (in °C), metabolic heat production (in W), and dry heat loss (in W) of two rats (Rattus norvegicus) maintained in constant darkness at 24°C for 4 days. Data resolution is 6 min. (Thus, each file contains 960 data points.)

SQUIRREL.ZIP

This file is 20 K long. It contains 10 files, 5 files with locomotor activity data (squirrel1.act to squirrel5.act) and 5 files with simultaneously recorded body temperature data (squirrel1.tb to squirrel5.tb) from five 3-month-old antelope ground squirrels (Ammospermophilus leucurus) housed individually in the laboratory (at 25 °C). Body temperature was recorded with temperature-sensitive PIT tags (in °C). Each file corresponds to 10 consecutive days. Lights were on daily from 0700 to 1900 h (files start at 0000 h). Data resolution is 6 min. (Thus, each file contains 2,400 data points.)

TUPAIA.ZIP

This file is only 7 K long. It contains 4 files (tupaia14.prn, tupaia20.prn, tupaia26.prn, and tupaia32.prn). The files contain body temperature data (in °C) for a 173 g male tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri) maintained at an environmental temperature of 14, 20, 26, and 32°C, respectively. Each file corresponds to 4 consecutive days. Lights were on daily from 1200 to 2400 h (files start at 0000 h). Data resolution is 6 min. (Thus, each file contains 960 data points.)

The data files available here constitute a very small fraction of the data collected in the laboratory over the years. They are made available here as mere illustration of different types of chronobiological data. Use of data down-loaded from this repository will not constitute copyright infringement as long as the source (this site) is explicitly acknowledged.

To reduce download time, all files are in zip format. You may download a file by clicking on the file's name (depending on the settings of your web browser, you may need to use the mouse's right button). You will have to unzip the file before using it. Files were zipped with PKZip and may be unzipped with a suitable program or simply moved out of the zip pseudo-folder with File Explorer in the Windows operating system.

Since the data were collected in regular intervals, the files contain no time tags. Starting times, as well as basic information about the conditions under which the data were collected, are indicated for each case. All files are standard ASCII (text) files with one data point per line.

After you unzip the files, you may load them into your favorite spreadsheet or graphics program.
If you need a simple graphics program to inspect the data, you may use the program Plot, which is available for free download at the Software section of this web site. The Software section also has a number of programs for time series analysis in the circadian range.

For information about data analysis procedures in circadian physiology, visit the Research section of this web site.

For more information concerning statistics and data analysis in general, you may wish to visit the American Statistical Association.

If you have questions about the data sets available here, you are welcome to send us a query. We will do our best to answer your questions. You may contact us via e-mail at: