Circadian rhythms of catecholamine excretion, shooting range performance and self-ratings of fatigue during sleep deprivation.

Circadian rhythms in urinary catecholamine excretion, performance and self-ratings were studied in two experiments with a total of 29 subjects who were deprived of sleep for 72 hr. Adrenaline excretion and fatigue ratings showed the most consistent circadian variations; noradrenaline and performance rhythms were more irregular. The average crest phase for adrenaline excretion was around 1400 hr, for noradrenaline about 0800 hr, for performance 1700 hr and for fatigue 0500 hr. Twenty-four hour levels of performance and 'subjective arousal' decreased over the three days of sleep deprivation, while adrenaline excretion levels increased.