Analysis of Models

This chapter explores the mathematical structure of models of the sleep-wake cycle. As in other chapters, we focus on the empirical phenomenon of spontaneous internal desynchron-ization between the sleep-wake and temperature cycles during free-run. Other important phenomena such as those occurring during sleep deprivation, continuous bedrest or entrainment to 24h or other schedules, will not be discussed. As we shall see, understanding and accounting for internal desynchronization alone is a difficult task.