Chronotype

Not to be confused with Chronotope or Chronotrope.
"Diurnal variation" redirects here. For the temperature range between daily highs and lows, see Diurnal temperature variation.

A chronotype is the behavioral manifestation of an underlying circadian rhythm's myriad physical processes. A person's chronotype is the propensity for the individual to sleep at a particular time during a 24-hour period. Eveningness (delayed sleep period; most active and alert in the evening) and morningness (advanced sleep period; most active and alert in the morning) are the two extremes with most individuals having some flexibility in the timing of their sleep period. However, across development there are changes in the propensity of the sleep period with pre-pubescent children preferring an advanced sleep period, adolescents preferring a delayed sleep period and many elderly preferring an advanced sleep period.

Chronotypes have also been investigated in other species, such as fruit flies and mice.

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