Modulating Neuronal Activity: Copper, Isoproterenol, and Beta-Blockers on the Brain

Circadian rhythms, or biological day-to-day rhythms, are stimulated and regulated by different factors within and outside the body. These circadian rhythms are controlled by a specialized set of pacemaker cells in an area of the brain called the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN). If the circadian pacemaker is functioning properly, these cells will exhibit neuronal firing that will peak around mid-day. In this study, we confirm circadian rhythmicity and show that highest neuronal firing rates occur during mid-day.