Synonyms
Disguising
Definition
The attenuation (negative) or enhancement (positive) of a measure of the circadian master clock by an exogenous stimulus or factor.
Characteristics
Masking is a term applied to a number of phenomena in circadian research, whereby some clock-controlled variable of interest is obscured, but not necessarily altered, by an exogenous factor. Masking can be superimposed on entrained or free-running rhythms, and can be identified by the sudden change in behavioral state that occurs with its onset or offset. Often the effectiveness of the masking stimulus is dependent on the circadian phase of the variable of interest. Masking can limit the interpretation of experimental results, which has necessitated the adoption of particular experimental protocols in order to reveal the endogenous circadian rhythm of the variable of interest. Two areas where masking has had a significant impact on experimental methodology are masking of locomotor activity by light in rodents...
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References
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© 2009 Springer-Verlag GmbH Berlin Heidelberg
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Lamont, E.W., Amir, S. (2009). Masking (Positive/Negative). In: Binder, M.D., Hirokawa, N., Windhorst, U. (eds) Encyclopedia of Neuroscience. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29678-2_3321
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29678-2_3321
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Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
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