Asking the Clock: How to Use Information from Questionnaires for Circadian Phenotyping

Céline Vetter; Eva C Winnebeck; Till Roenneberg

doi:10.1007/978-1-0716-0381-9_6

Asking the Clock: How to Use Information from Questionnaires for Circadian Phenotyping

Methods Mol Biol. 2021:2130:79-85. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0381-9_6.

Authors

Céline Vetter¹, Eva C Winnebeck², Till Roenneberg³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
² Institute of Medical Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich, Germany.
³ Institute of Medical Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich, Germany. roenneberg@lmu.de.

PMID: 33284437
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0381-9_6

Abstract

With the emergence of big data science, the question how we can easily collect meaningful information about circadian clock phenotypes in large human cohorts imposes itself. Here, we describe potentials and limitations of using questionnaires, specifically the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQ), to characterize such circadian phenotypes. We also discuss scenarios when alternative methods might be more appropriate.

Keywords: Chronotype; Circadian disruption; Diurnal preference; Entrainment; Misalignment; Phenotyping; Proxy; Sleep; Sleep timing.

MeSH terms

Big Data
Circadian Rhythm*
Humans
Phenotype*
Surveys and Questionnaires / standards*