Scientific American: Psychology
Infographic Activity 4.1: The Suprachiasmatic Nucleus
The Suprachiasmatic Nucleus
The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus is the body’s internal master clock, playing a role in regulating our circadian rhythms. These rhythms roughly follow the 24-hour cycle of daylight and darkness. But one doesn’t have to consciously perceive light for the SCN to function properly: there is a dedicated, nonvisual pathway that carries light information from the eyes to the SCN.
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