There is evidence of animal species that have periodical behaviors which involve sounds (e.g., birds that sing every morning at the same time), and there are also studies which show that sounds can modulate a biological clock (e.g., circadian locomotor rhythm in house sparrow; Menaker & Eskin, 1966). Nevertheless, is there evidence about a specie that use sounds as a synchronizer (zeitgeber) of these cycles? For example, a diurnal animal that wakes up when it hears the birds singing at sunrise and go sleep when it ears the buzzing sound of crickets at night. And more important, could it be possible in humans?
Thanks in advance.
Pablo Solana, Psychology Degree Student, University of Granada.
Not to my knowledge, and I've read a lot of the literature over the last half century. More likely, there may be a secondary effect of noises that disrupt daily sleep patterns, a disruption that may, in turn, affect circadian rhythms.
As you already mentioned, there are species in which sounds can modulate or entrain the circadian clock. More recent studies showed that Drosophila can be entrained by mechanosensation via the chordotonal organs, which have similarities to the mammalian ear. Therefore, sound COULD be used as a Zeitgeber, but it's hard to say if animals really rely on that in nature. Concerning your last question...sure can sound be used to entrain humans, nothing else happens with an alarm clock that always wakes you up at the same time.
some literature:
doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00754.2004
doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(83)90085-9
DOI: 10.1126/science.154.3756.1579
doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.1989.tb00737.x
doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2014.04.011
DOI: 10.1126/science.1245710
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